Apologynotaccepted is TDN Rising Star for Fusaichi Pegasus

It’s not often a five year-old mare earns status as a TDN Rising Star but that is what happened when Apologynotaccepted (5m Fusaichi Pegasus x Withmom’sapproval, by With Approval) made her debut at Gulfstream on Friday.

A homebred for Alter’s Racing Stable, the David Kassen trained mare was expected to run well in six furlong maiden and did all that and more when opening up to win by 16 lengths.

"I thought it was a tough race. It was a tough race. She made it look easy," Kassen said.

"She had been training super good. The rider liked her and said she was the best horse he's been on all winter. He's been working her, and he's been on some nice horses. She ran back to her works. It's amazing, but she trained like that. She came home in 11 and he said she had a lot left in the tank."

Apologynotaccepted is the seventh winner for Withmom’sapproval, a half-sister to stakes-winner Respect for Mom.