Pioneerof the Nile’s Positive Spirit soars in Demoiselle S. (G2)

Positive Spirit was simply spectacular in the $250,000 Demoiselle S. (G2) Dec. 1 at Aqueduct, rolling to a 10 1/2-length win in the stakes debut for the 2-year-old Pioneerof the Nile filly.

Positive Spirit’s win put her sire on the cusp of $34 million in lifetime earnings, which is $22 million more than any sire of his generation. 

Winner of a Churchill Downs maiden race on Nov. 8, Positive Spirit was prominent from the start of the Demoiselle. After breaking on top, she settled back in third to the outside of Filly Joel and Enliven. Going very comfortably under Manny Franco, Positive Spirit moved for the lead outside the quarter pole and opened up rapidly. Six lengths to the good with a furlong to run, she widened her margin despite being completely wrapped up.

“I was just the pilot,” said Franco. “She was dragging me around the entire way around. I just waited for the right moment to make a run and she was there for me. I wasn’t concerned about being floated wide because on the backside we were running straight and didn’t lose ground. She took me to the front to make the lead and when I asked her she really opened up.”

Owned by Michael Ryan and bred by Santa Rosa Partners, Positive Spirit is 2-1-1 in four starts and has earned $206,700. Out of Above Perfection, the regally-bred filly is a half-sister to 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming and Spinaway S. (G1) champ Hot Dixie Chick.