Churchill Downs Saturday

THERE were two graded stakes wins for Irish-breds in the turf races on the Derby undercard and they produced a one-two in the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes for fillies and mares.

Odds-on favourite Newspaperofrecord never looked as easy on the lead as she had in her two previous wins but victory still looked likely as she was sent clear off the bend.

But Beau Recall, a Sir Prancealot mare who began her career with Ado McGuinness, delivered a powerful rally through the stretch to surge past Newspaperofrecord and take a length-and-a-half victory to make it a fabulous weekend for Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox.

Two starts back, Beau Recall finished second to Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes at Belmont Park and she secured her fourth graded stakes win here under Manny Franco. Beau Recall was bred here by Tom Wallace and now has earning of $1.4 million. Cox hopes a Grade 1 is next on her agenda.

“She’s beat some serious Grade 1 winners. We’re trying to get her one, hopefully, get her one at some point. I’m very proud of her,” he said.

Another horse foaled in Ireland, Digital Age and Javier Castellano took the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes by three quarters of a length.

The four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit was the longest-priced of trainer Chad Brown’s three entries in the nine-furlong contest.

Brown’s Rockemperor finished third and Sacred Life who finished fourth. Digital Age won on the Derby undercard last year when he captured the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes.

The winner is owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, part owners of 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks And Mortar and Newspaperofrecord.

Klarman bought Digital Age from of Book 1 of the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 325,000gns. He won the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay, the American Turf and was second in last year’s Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes.

Great contest

The seven-furlong Grade 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes for fillies and mares produced a great contest with last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress bombing through a half-mile in 43.77secs before Bell’s The One drew on even terms early in the straight.

The game Serengeti Empress fought back all the way to the line and just lost the bob by a nose.

It was a first Grade 1 for trainer Neil Pessin, who has been training for 35 years.

“I thought she went by, and then I thought Serengeti Empress came back. I wasn’t sure if we’d won, second, or dead-heated. It was just too close to call. I was happy whether we’d won or lost,” he said.

Tom Amoss, trainer of Serengeti Empress said: “I think the major players attacked us early {Bellafina] but they knew that she was the speed.

“That made it really difficult and when you’re laying back and just picking up the pieces and everyone else is doing the dirty work, that can work to your advantage.

“Make no mistake about it, I couldn’t be more proud of my girl. We didn’t get it today but she ran her heart out and we’ll get one more chance in November (Breeders’ Cup) at Keeneland”