(November 29, 2008) – Ann Lorenson Lynch’s War Tigress, ridden by Julio Garcia, held off a late charge by favored Striking Dancer by three-quarters of a length to win the $57,200 Caressing Handicap for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.
In turning back 10 rivals, War Tigress covered the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:38.83.
War Tigress stalked the pace of longshot leader Yo Eleven before taking command leaving the backstretch. Turning for home, War Tigress held a narrow lead over a multitude of challengers and surged clear in the final sixteenth with enough left to hold off Striking Dancer to her inside.
Trained by Jeffrey Thornbury, War Tigress is a Kentucky-bred daughter of War Chant out of the Tejano mare Tigresa. The victory was the third in four starts, all on the grass, for War Tigress who improved her career bankroll to $80,818 with the winner’s check of $35,794.
War Tigress returned $25.20, $8.80 and $5.20. Striking Dancer, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $3 and $2.60 with Abbott Hall finishing third a nose back under Jamie Theriot and returning $4.
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