Beau Recall wins back-to-back Distaff Turfs
It was a second straight G2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. win for Sir Prancealot’s (Ire) Beau Recall (USA) over 1600 metres at Churchill Downs.
Breaking strongly from a wide barrier, she quickly angled toward the rail and took up her place in the back of the field with just one horse beat as Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) expectedly took the lead. Down the backstretch, Beau Recall crept a little closer to be within striking distance in the turn.
Going to the outside of a tiring horse, Beau Recall went wide in the stretch to give herself plenty of running room as she set down to chase down the longtime leader.
In the final 100 metres, she pulled the upset when galloping by and finding yet another gear to pull away by 1.5l with Newspaperofrecord holding on to second over La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) by 1l.
“She loves it here. We sort of knew coming into this week that it could be a big week for our stable. This is our home and to have this sort of weekend on the biggest stage in the sport is really special.”
It was an eighth career victory for millionaire Beau Recall, who has won six stakes races with four Group 1 placings.
The Irish-bred filly by Cornerstone Stud’s Sir Prancealot is one of two stakes horses out of Greta d’Argent (Ire) (Great Commotion {USA}), who is a half-sister to Listed winner and Group 2-placed Winged D’Argent (Ire) (In The Wings {Ire}).
The victory was one of two stakes performances for Sir Prancealot on Saturday with Lady Prancealot (Ire) finishing second in the G2 John C. Mabee S. at Del Mar to end the day’s North American stakes action.
Beau Recall has a 2-year-old full sister who sold for €35,000 (AU$56,908) as a foal in 2018 with her yearling half-sister to Mehmas (Ire) going to the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale as Lot 641.
Digital Age runs down leader for Turf Classic victory
Digital Age (Ire) became Invincible Spirit’s (Ire) first United States Grade 1 winner in 11 years with a win in Saturday’s G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. over 1800 metres.
As predicted, Factor This (USA) (The Factor {USA}} went straight to the front to set the pace, while Digital Age was placed on the hedge at the back of the main pack. The 4-year-old colt was about 10l off Factor This down the backstretch but moved closer in the far turn.
Going to the outside of most of the field, Digital Age reached Factor This in the final 100 metres and had enough time to add 0.75l to his margin with Factor This 2.25l ahead of Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) with a three-way photo for fourth.
Jockey Javier Castellano said, “I predicted for myself ‘I can’t lose with Newspaperofrecord (in the Distaff Turf Mile)’ and we just got beat. And this horse is like 8-1 and ended up winning the big race. That’s what makes this game fun, you never know what is going to happen with the horses.”
The first U.S. Grade 1 winner for Invincible Spirit since Vale of York’s (Ire) win in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, this was the fifth victory for Digital Age, who won last year’s G2 American Turf S. on this card.
The colt is one of two winners from two to race out of Willow View (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}) alongside his full sister Charming Spirit (Ire) with Willow View a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cursory Glance (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}).
Digital Age’s fourth dam Not Before Time (Ire) (Polish Precedent {USA}) is also the granddam of G1 Schweppes Crystal Mile winner Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and great-granddam of New Zealand Group 2-placed Intrigue (NZ) (Showcasing).
Digital Age’s Siyouni (Fr) yearling half-sister sells in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale as Lot 535 next month.
Bell’s the One comes out best in Derby City Distaff
Last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (USA) (Alternation {USA}) set a fast tempo in the G1 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Derby City Gaming but in the end, it was Bell’s the One (USA) (Majesticperfection {USA}) who benefited with her first Grade 1 victory.
“That was an unbelievable horse race,” trainer Neil Pessin said of his first career Grade 1 victory. “Tom Amoss and I actually joked before the photo came out that we would take a dead heat. This filly had a great trip once again with Corey [Lanerie]. He fits this filly so well."
The second Grade 1 winner for Uruguay-based Majesticperfection (USA), Bell’s the One is one of two stakes horses for the winning Street Cry (Ire) mare Street Mate (USA).
That mare is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Tap Day (USA) (Pleasant Tap {USA}) and a granddaughter of Grade 2 winner Possible Mate (USA) (King’s Bishop {USA}) with multiple daughters of that mare producing more than one stakes horse.
Fancy Liquor gives Lookin At Lucky Derby weekend double
Ending the Kentucky Oaks card with a Grade 2 win by Diamond Oops (USA) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) started the Derby day stakes with another victory when Fancy Liquor (USA) scored his first graded stakes win in the G2 American Turf presented by Smithfield.
By former shuttle sire, Lookin At Lucky (USA), Fancy Liquor is one of two winners for Brandys Secret (USA) (Secret Romeo {USA}) from the family of stakes winner Joy Of Brandy (USA) (Quiet Enjoyment {USA}).
Change in plans works in Rushie’s favour
Originally scheduled to run in the G1 Kentucky Derby, the decision to run Rushie (USA) (Liam’s Map {USA}) paid off for connections with a win in the G2 Pat Day Mile S. presented by LG and E and KU.
Racing over 1600 metres on the dirt, Rushie broke widest of all and raced just behind the leading Vertical Threat (USA) (Tapiture {USA}). Rushie stayed wide throughout and with 1000 metres left to run moved even closer as he raced at the hip of second-placed Tap It To Win (USA) (Tapit {USA}).
Once he had the lead, Rushie was all about building his margin. A late run from Sonneman (USA) (Curlin {USA}) saw Rushie win by 1.75l with Tap It To Win digging back in late to finish third 0.5l behind Sonneman.
“Part of me wanted to go with the Derby,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “The horse was training well all along but I can’t thank the owners enough for supporting me."
The third graded stakes winner and fifth stakes winner for second-crop sire Liam’s Map (USA), Rushie is the first foal for an unraced half-sister to Grade 1 winner Peace And War (USA) (War Front {USA}) and two other winners.
This is also the family of last year’s U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old British Idiom (USA) (Flashback {USA}) and Grade 2 winner Papa Inc (Arg) (Include {USA}).
Sittin On Go enters Derby picture in Iroquois
The first Kentucky Derby points race for the 2021 edition of the race came on the undercard of this year’s edition when Sittin On Go (USA) (Brody’s Cause {USA}) earned the first 10 points toward the race with a G3 Iroquois S. presented by Ford victory.
A winner on debut last out, Sittin On Go had only one horse beat early in the 1600 metre race but as they entered the main track, moved up a few more positions.
It was an easy win with the 24-1 shot galloping to a 2.5l victory with Midnight Bourbon 1.75l ahead of third-placed Super Stock (USA) (Super Stock {USA}).
“We’re having ourselves a great weekend. This horse reminds us a lot of his father,” said trainer Dale Romans, who also trained Brody’s Cause. “We were pretty confident he’d be able to stretch out from his training and this race set up perfectly for us. We’re on to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Bred 2 x 3 to Giant’s Causeway (USA), the colt is out of More Than Ready’s (USA) stakes-placed daughter Set’n On Ready (USA).
He is from the family of Grade 2 winner Speaktomeofsummer (USA) (Summer Front {USA}) and Irish champion Lucayan Prince (USA) (Fast Play {USA}) along with Italian champion Amaron (GB) (Shamardal {USA}).
