Can D Girl (#7), with Giovani Vazquez-Gomez in the irons, won the $80,000 Overnight Stakes at Sandy Ridge at Red Mile on Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Media

LEXINGTON, KY–MARCH 16, 2025–After two disqualifications for bumped starts, Can D Girl moves into the top spot to win her debut start of the season in the $80,000 Cherokee Overnight Stakes on Sunday at the Sandy Ridge at Red Mile.

With Giovani Vazquez-Gomez in the iron, Can D Girl made a clean run, crossing the wire in a photo finish with Rustys Cowgirl and Tf Jess A Eagle. Earning the nod after the top two were disqualified, the daughter of leading sire Uncle D got the victory in 12.091 seconds, clocking an 89-speed index.

The longshot's victory paid $18.22 on 8-1 odds with sloppy track conditions and 16 mph crosswinds. Can D Girl's $48,000 payday increased her lifetime earnings to $89,430.

Rustys Cowgirl moved from first to seventh, and Tf Jess A Eagle moved from second to fifth. El Capi took runner-up under the guidance of Yaidel Rodriguez and Its a Ruidoso Weddin placed third with Edgar Diaz in the saddle.

The winning connections of Can D Girl accept the Cherokee Stakes trophy on Sunday at Sandy Ridge at The Red Mile.
© Coady Media

Starting in her three-year-old year, Can D Girl has lit the board six of eight starts with three career wins. Last year, she was a finalist in the Heartland Futurity and Governors Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Trainer Jessica Vazquez saddled Can D Girl for owner Angel Ventura, who purchased her for $11,000 in the 2023 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale.

Bred by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses, Can D Girl is out of the stakes-placed winning daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon, This Candy Says Bye, who is a half-sister to champion Chasing Aj. She is from the family of champion Jess Good Candy.

Trainer Fernando Lopez saddled runner-up El Capi for owner Leobersi Perez. The son of Capo De Capi has a record of 3-6-1 from 15 starts and $66,861 in the bank.

Maria Preciado bred El Capi in Florida out of the FDD Dynasty mare Commanche Spirit. The five-year-old gelding placed fourth in the Gentilly Dash Stakes last year.

Third place finisher Its A Ruidoso Weddin was bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock LLC. Claudio Barraza trains the four-year-old son filly for owner Francisco Javier Rodriguez.

Its A Ruidoso Weddin has won her last two outs from 11 starts and has lifetime earnings of $32,898. The four-year-old filly out of Trendi by Stoli was a $100,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate in 2022. She later sold for $35,000 in the 2024 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

After School placed fourth, and Ajk Forgiven moved into sixth to complete the field. Relentless Zoom was scratched.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.

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