LOUISVILLE, KY – Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing’s Beau Recall took command in deep stretch and cleared away late at 10/1 odds to win Saturday’s Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Breaking from post 4 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Beau Recall took back and saved ground heading into the clubhouse turn. Take These Chains held the early lead down the backstretch while running three lanes off the rail, but Capla Temptress and Valedictorian soon snuck underneath her to take over near the midway point. At the top of the stretch, Capla Temptress held a slim lead, but Got Stormy soon powered past her and began separating from the field.
Beau Recall had other things in mind.
Charging from last to first, she flew down the middle of the track and swept past Got Stormy late before hitting the wire victorious. The Brad Cox trainee completed the mile-long event over the firm turf course in a final time of 1:37.12.
“I had a perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “She doesn’t have too much speed, so she was in the back and was relaxed. When I asked her to run, she was there for me. She was comfortable the whole way.”
Got Stormy prevailed to hold second by a head over Daddy Is A Legend, with Environs finishing fourth. The 5/2 favorite Precieuse wasn’t able to find her best footing and couldn’t close better than fifth by a 1/2-length over Proctor’s Ledge, with Capla Temptress fading to finish a neck back in seventh. Valedictorian, Raven’s Lady, and Take These Chains completed the order of finish.
Beau Recall’s win was her third in her previous four starts, including a pair of ungraded stakes scores at Fair Grounds, since moving to Cox’s barn. The 5-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Sir Prancealot improved her record to 22-6-5-0 with $740,512 earned.
“She got a class relief this winter at the Fair Grounds,” Cox said. “It picked her head back up and she has figured out how to win again. I think, ultimately, that’s what got her going in the right direction again. She did move forward when she got up here after the Fair Grounds and she showed it today.”
Beau Recall returned $23 to win, $11.60 to place, and $6.80 to show. Got Stormy brought back $11.80 to place and $7.20 to show, while Daddy Is A Legend paid $4 to show.
