THE Doug O’Neill-trained Pavel ran out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs’ Downs after dark meeting last Saturday.

Another highlight of the evening was the parade of Triple Crown winner Justify before he left to return to Santa Anita on Sunday.

Pavel, a four-year-old colt, owned by Reddam Racing came home a three-and-three-quarter-length winner in the mile and a furlong test under Mario Gutierrez. The Stephen Foster favourites Backyard Heaven and Irish War Cry proved disappointing with the latter pulled up by Jose Ortiz.

Last away, Pavel moved up to stalk the pace, as Uncle Mojo moved to the front, 4/5 favourite Backyard Heaven and Pavel then pressed the leader as they rounded the far turn.

From there, it was Pavel who surged ahead, taking command down the stretch, and was unchallenged in the final furlongs, completing the distance in a final time of 1m 9.21secs.

“It’s so exciting! We were so optimistic and hopeful, but to actually see it happen is unbelievable,” O’Neill said.

Honorable Duty took second, with Matrooh in third. Backyard Heaven finished sixth. Irish War Cry was pulled up by jockey Jose Ortiz after being affected by the heat and humidity. According to trainer Graham Motion, he was in good order back at the barn.

Pavel began this season with three consecutive fourth-place finishes but O’Neill said: “You know you get those vibes, and we did. We kept going with it. But his Dubai race, when you really dissect it, he ran a dynamite race over there.

“We had really hoped he would get all worked up, because in the past when he’s won, he’d get lathered up and washed out.”

Also on the card the Argentine-bred Blue Prize won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap over 11 furlongs and Mr. Misunderstood took the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes on turf where last year’s top miler World Approval disappointed, reported not to have handled the track.

Star Performance

At Belmont the star performance was by Oscar Performance who won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes on turf in record time. The Kitten’s Joy colt won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at two and last year took the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.

Boyne best again

AT Santa Anita last Sunday, the former Irish-trained River Boyne, a son of Dandy Man, won his fourth race from his five US starts for Jeff Mullins in the Rainbow Stakes, a stakes race over 11 furlongs.