Stonestreet Stables’ Kentucky homebred Eclatant outdueled Grand Job by a nose to win the 25th running of the $650,000 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday, April 4.
In the Madison, Eclatant and Grand Job hooked up at the three-sixteenths pole and were inseparable to the finish line. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Eclatant completed the seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:21.84. It is the second win in the race for Cox and Ortiz, with Cox winning in 2022 with Just One Time and Ortiz a year later with Goodnight Olive.
R Disaster led the field of eight through fractions of :21.95 and :44.68 with Grand Job and Eclatant in closest pursuit. R Disaster maintained her lead into the stretch only to be overhauled at the three-sixteenths pole by Grand Job and Eclatant.
Eclatant scores second graded win
Eclatant is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred Into Mischief filly out of the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario. With her second graded-stakes victory, Eclatant improved her record to 8-5-0-1 and hiked her earnings to $705,073 with Saturday’s $387,888 check.
“I’m so proud (she won) from the one hole,” said Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables. “It was awesome. She could not be doing any better. She looked terrific, and Brad has done a really great job with her. Irad managed to get the trip from the one hole and get her there. That was fabulous. She really deserves the Grade 1, and I hope there are more in her future.”
Winning rider Irad Ortiz added, “I just tried to follow instructions to get behind the speed. The filly helped big time because she broke sharp. After that, I just took my time. I was able to get her out at the three-eighths pole, and I felt good at that point to go ahead and start working on her, and she got there.”