Winning Image takes the Cornucopia Stakes. Photo by Bill Denver / Equi-Photo.

Winning Image takes the Cornucopia Stakes. Photo by Bill Denver / Equi-Photo.

Winning Image carried a four-race losing streak into Saturday’s Cornucopia Stakes at Parx Racing and figured to have her hands full against a strong field.

Never mind all that.

The seven-year-old daughter of Southern Image, with veteran rider Tony Black in the irons, shot to the early lead, turned back the stiff challenge of Munnings Sister, and posted the tenth stakes win of her career.  The win ran her record to 14 wins from 32 career starts and pushed her career earnings to $729,237.

Munnings Sister broke sharply, but from the rail, Black quickly put Winning Image in her accustomed spot, on the lead.  The chestnut mare shot through a quarter-mile in 21 4/5 seconds and a half in 44.94, with Munnings Sister in hot pursuit.

Reaching the head of the lane, Munnings Sister appeared to have dead aim and moved up to challenge Winning Image.  But, under a hand ride by Black, Winning Image never let her rival by, holding on to a half-length win.  It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Lady Sabelia in third; favored Geeky Gorgeous finished fourth.

Winning Image, who stopped the clock in 1:10.12 for six furlongs, is trained by Michael Aro for owner Martin Scafidi and was bred in Kentucky by Dreamfields, Inc. and Don Brady.

 

OTHER PARX STAKES RESULTS

  • Bound posted a 10-1 upset in the Plum Pretty for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.  Under Kendrick Carmouche, the daughter of Jump Start bid wide on the turn for home and drew off to win by three.  Bound is trained by Bernie Houghton for Barlar LLC and was bred in Pennsylvania by Barlar LLC.
  • Page McKenney posted his second stakes win — and fifth win in six starts overall — by rallying from the rear of the field to defeat five rivals in the off-the-turf First Responder Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.  The four-year-old, ridden by Frankie Pennington and trained by Mary Eppler for Adam Staple and Jalin Stable, has now won nine of 28 starts and earned $301,078.  He was bred in Pennsylvania by Dr. James Bryant and Linda Davis.