It was Bound by Destiny’s fourth win from four career outings and her second stakes win. She has now earned $138,750. In her prior start, she had won the Blue Hen Stakes against similar rivals by nearly six lengths.

Under regular pilot Jeremy Rose and breaking from the rail, Bound by Destiny broke in mid-pack. Rose took her off the rail, and she settled in third while Talk to the Judge and Chickieness battled for the lead through an opener in 22.75 seconds.

Rounding the turn, Rose let his filly move, and she glided up to and by the leaders, taking a half-length advantage after a half-mile in 45.99 seconds. Talk to the Judge and Chickieness held the next two spots.

In the lane, while failing to switch leads, Bound by Destiny put away Talk to the Judge while Chickieness gave willing chase, slowly – too slowly – cutting into the advantage. Chickieness narrowed the gap to 1 ½ lengths at the wire while finishing five clear of the rest.

Running time for the six furlongs on a fast main track was 1:11.45. Chickieness held second, while 47-1 outsider Unbridled Sass, who acted up at the gate, was along belatedly for third. Early leader Talk to the Judge faded to sixth of seven.

“I thought she was going to bring a solid performance and she delivered on those expectations,” said winning trainer Anthony Pecoraro.  “She had been training great and developing so nicely since her victory in the Blue Hen Stakes.  I am not sure where we are going next with her.  We are just going to enjoy this victory for the next couple of days and then we will start looking at possible next starts.”

Off at 3-10, Bound by Destiny paid just $2.60 to win. The exacta, with the second choice in second, returned $2.50 on a one-dollar wager.

Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Bound by Destiny is a daughter of Lord Nelson. Mark Esposito’s Black Cloud Racing purchased her for $22,000 out of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.