One to watch: Pennybaker

The Biz
April 18, 2022

Pennybaker has the bloodlines to be a star. And in Saturday’s Heavenly Cause Stakes, she gave notice that she might just live up to them.

Under jockey Jevian Toledo, Pennybaker, a four-year-old filly, was never far back. Rounding the turn in the one-mile contest, she cruised up to the leaders while wide and then, straightened away for home, kicked clear en route to a 6 3/4-length victory against a salty field.

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Pennybaker has now won five consecutive races. The first four races in that streak came on synthetic surfaces in France; the Heavenly Cause was her first North American start and her first outing on dirt.

Pennybaker now has five wins from 11 career outings. The winner’s share pushed her career bankroll to $144,595.

Pennybaker is trained by Michael Stidham. After spending a couple months with Stidham’s Fair Grounds string, she shifted north to his Fair Hill Training Center operation, where she posted one solid breeze prior to the Heavenly Cause.

Pennybaker is a homebred for Godolphin LLC. She is by Medaglia d’Oro out of the Tapit mare Macaroon. Macaroon is a full sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted, who earned nearly $4 million in his career.