Staying in training an Innovative Idea for Groupie Doll winner

Innovative Idea always had a broodmare career waiting for her sooner or later, and thankfully for trainer Eoin Harty it’s going to come later for Godolphin’s homebred four-year-old Bernardini filly.

Innovative Idea notched her second consecutive stakes victory when winning the $100,000 Groupie Doll (G3) on Saturday at Ellis Park -- not bad for a filly who almost retired after consecutive losses this winter at Tampa Bay Downs.

“There was a change of heart at the 11th hour,” Harty said of the filly remaining in training. “We’ve had a lot of patience with her, and it’s paid off. She was stakes placed at 2, and now she’s a graded stakes winner at 4.”

Innovative Idea was not competitive in a couple Grade 3 races after winning her confidence builder at Tampa, but she found her stride on July 1 at Prairie Meadows, winning the Iowa Distaff over stakes winner Super Majesty. She cut back to a mile for the Groupie Doll, laid close to the pace again and cruised to victory under Marlon St. Julien.

“The last time I wore these silks was in the Kentucky Derby (G1),” said St. Julien, who rode Curule for Godolphin in 1999. “I kept her close, and we were going fast, but she finished strong. She was comfortable the whole way and rolled late.”

Innovative Idea has now won six of 16 races lifetime and has earned $234,163. Her dam is the multiple Grade 3 winner Golden Velvet, by Seeking the Gold, herself a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning sire Sky Mesa out of multiple Grade 3 winner Caress.

“It’s a big win for the farm, the breeders, everyone,” Harty said. “Now we’ll get her back to the barn, feed her a bunch of carrots, and when she starts squealing again I’ll pick up a condition book and find her next start.”