2024.12.14 OP Stakes Recap MIstletoe

by Robert Yates —-

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Indiana-bred star Corningstone recorded her first career stakes victory in open company Saturday at Oaklawn, powering to 4 ¼-length victory over favored Taxed in the one-mile $150,000 Mistletoe for fillies and mares, 3 and up.

Making her debut for owner Payson Stud Inc. (Christian Erickson), Corningstone marked the second consecutive Mistletoe victory for 2024 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek. He captured last year’s edition with Butterbean. Julien Leparoux rode both Mistletoe winners.

Taxed (4-5) finished second, 2 ¼ lengths clear of Bow Draw, who was followed by Tapit Jenallie, Wildwood Bye and Stellar Lily, who led through a :47.89 half-mile. Deck of Cards was scratched.

The 2-1 second choice, Corningstone was exiting a third-place finish behind stablemate Under the Palms in the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap for Indiana-breds Oct. 2 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The Mistletoe marked Corningstone’s fourth career stakes victory. The first three came against state-breds at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

After vying for the early lead in the Mistletoe, Corningstone settled into fourth down the backstretch before engaging Taxed on the outside late on the second turn. Corningstone ($6.80) began drawing clear at the top of the stretch and completed the distance over a muddy, sealed surface in 1:38.97.

A 4-year-old daughter of Kantharos, Corningstone raised her lifetime earnings to $670,818 following her seventh victory from 22 starts.

Payson purchased Corningstone for $275,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

MISTLETOE QUOTES

Winning jockey Julien Leparoux (Corningstone): “She was a little bit nervous in the paddock, but after that she relaxed beautifully on the track. Today, I wanted to be close enough to the pace, so I didn’t have too much to do. She broke good, put me in the right spot in the first turn and she kept on very nicely at the end.”

Winning trainer Kenny McPeek (Corningstone): “This filly changed hands in the fall. The original (ownership) group decided to sell her and someone else (Payson) bought her and sent her back to me, so I feel very fortunate. You’ll see her right back here in the Pippin.”