Dawn the Destroyer sets major milestone for Speightstown

Speightstown became just the sixth active North American sire to get 100 black type stakes winners on Jan. 25 when Dawn the Destroyer captured the $100,000 Interborough S. at Aqueduct.

Speightstown joins the likes of fellow WinStar stallions Distorted Humor and More Than Ready on the illustrious list. 

Dawn the Destroyer, 5, placed in the Grade 2 Prioress S. in 2017. With Friday’s win, she is now 4-2-2 in 13 starts with earnings of $231,405 for owner/breeder Stonestreet Stables. 

Away from the gate behind horses, Dawn the Destroyer tallied in fifth for the first five furlongs before Junior Alvarado swung her five-wide for the stretch run. In full gear with a furlong to run, she flew past the leaders to win by nearly two lengths in 1:25.74 for the seven furlongs on a “good” main track.

“With the little bit of time off since she’s been back, she’s really been training well,” said Joe Lee, assistant to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “I expected her to run well today and I’m just glad she did.” 

Out of Dashing Debby, Dawn the Destroyer is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Bronze Star. The winner’s dam had a colt by Frosted in 2018 and was bred back to Speightstown.