Jockey John Velazquez did not need to ask She Feels Pretty for her best down the stretch in her notching a comfortable victory in the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, but the headstrong 3-year-old filly tested many of the Hall of Famer’s skills before that point.
Off slowly to begin, she took an awkward step heading down the hillside turf course as the field crossed over the main track to the primary grass course at Santa Anita. Becoming aggressive thereafter, she dragged Velazquez forward after the leaders, forcing him to put her under stout restraint to avoid her using too much energy early in the 1 1/4-mile race. Then, leaving the backstretch, she and Velazquez found themselves hemmed in after an aggressive early move by Frankie Dettori aboard Kathynmarissa .
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