BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 – Charles Reed and Mike Zanella’s Bold Affair notched her third straight stakes win in Maryland this year when she rallied to beat four other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Trained by Howard Wolfendale and ridden by Abel Castellano Jr., the 4-year-old daughter of Two Punch settled behind the leaders down the backstretch before launching a four-wide bid heading into the lane. Bold Affair wore down Valiant Passion and Afleet Lass in the stretch while edging away to a 1 ½-length victory.

The winner, who won the Conniver Stakes at Laurel and the Primonetta at Pimlico in her two previous starts, finished the six-furlong distance in 1:11.71 and paid $4.40.  Valiant Passion and Afleet Lass finished second and third.

It’s Me Mom, the even-money favorite, faded to fifth after pressing the early pace.

Skipat Stakes Quotes

Mike Zanella (winning part-owner, Bold Affair)– “The filly is phenomenal. We’re having so much fun with her. It’s fantastic to win a race on Preakness weekend. It’s a game of luck, and we happen to be the lucky ones.”

Abel Castellano Jr. (winning jockey, Bold Affair)– “She got away a little slow today and she was not acting too good in the gate.  I was fourth in the back and I wanted to stay pretty close because there were some fast fillies in there. Johnny’s (Velazquez) horse (Valiant Passion) got to the lead and he looked like he wanted to keep going, so I better move now. It worked out good.

Willie Martinez (jockey, beaten favorite, It’s Me Mom)– “She wasn’t herself today. She got off a step slow and the track was a hair too cuppy for her. She normally gets over every surface and she’s extremely fast. I just couldn’t get her to take the bridal. Everything seemed like she was spinning her wheels in the same direction.”