Paynter’s Hybrid Eclipse kicked off her 5-year-old campaign in style Saturday at Laurel Park with a 2 ¼-length victory over Award Wanted in the $100,000 Nellie Morse S.
Hybrid Eclipse broke alertly then was rated off the pacesetters Runaway Monet and Pistol Liz Ablazen down the backstretch as they posted fractions of :23.92 and :48.23. Only two lengths off the lead entering the final turn, Hybrid Eclipse came four-wide into the stretch to mount her charge. Under brisk urging, she forged to the front with a furlong to run and won going away in 1:44.96 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast track.
Owned by Stuart Grant’s The Ekstone Group, LLC, Hybrid Eclipse won both the Thirty Eight Go Go S. and the Caesar’s Wish S., both also at Laurel in 2022. Her overall record stands at 7-2-4 in 19 starts, with earnings of $431,824.
Bred by Alex Venneri Racing, LLC, Hybrid Eclipse sold for $107,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Horses of Racing Age sale.
Paynter, the sire of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go, has 46 lifetime stakes horses and progeny earnings that surpass $36 million. A Grade 1-winning millionaire in his own right, Paynter stands this year for $7,500 S&N.
