Yo Y Me over Fortified Effort in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

When they last met in the Dec. 8 Cactus Wren, 3-year-old Fortified Effort had the measure of his older stablemate Yo Y Me, but the newly inaugurated ATBA Fall Sales Stakes for 3- and 4-year-olds, run at Turf Paradise on Dec. 31, gave 4-year-old Yo Y Me an opportunity to avenge that defeat.

Yo Y Me emerged with the lead shortly after the break and dueled longshot Oh Brother Jack as the pair raced through fractions of :22.25 and :44.69. After turning back Oh Brother Jack entering the stretch, Yo Y Me had plenty in reserve to draw off from Fortified Effort through the stretch. The Dixie Chatter gelding completed a mile over the sealed track in 1:35.30.

Yo Y Me and Fortified Effort provided a one-two finish for breeder Fleming Thoroughbred Farm and trainer Kevin Eikleberry. Eikleberry, J. Lloyd Yother and William Matthews own the winner, while Marvin Fleming joins that trio in the ownership of Fortified Effort.