Beau Recall Defends Title in Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

LOUISVILLE, KY – Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing’s Beau Recall swept to the lead in deep stretch to defend her title Saturday’s $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Breaking from post 6 under Manny Franco as the 8/1 fourth choice, Beau Recall sat well off the pace in fifth while the 1/2 favorite Newspaperofrecord went straight to the lead.

Allowed a bit of free running from closest chaser Juliet Foxtrot, Newspaperofrecord posted opening fractions of :23.99, :47.93, and 1:11.82 before turning for home still under a hand ride.

Franco waited until the top of the stretch to tip Beau Recall out, and once clear, gave her the green light. The Brad Cox trainee responded eagerly, closing the considerable gap in the stretch and taking over the lead at the 1/16 pole.

Running unfettered through to the wire, Beau Recall crossed 1 1/2 lengths the best in a final time of 1:35.39 for the mile-long firm turf route.

“She knows how to get it done,” Franco said. “I just rode her with confidence. I let her have the target in front of us. I was patient until we got in the clear, and that’s when I asked her to run, and she just exploded.”

Newspaperofrecord was second-best on the day, finishing 1 length ahead of La Signare. Juliet Foxtrot came up empty in the stretch and had just enough left to hold off Daddy Is a Legend by a neck for fourth.

Belle Laura completed the order of finish.

Harmless and She’sonthewarpath were scratched.

Beau Recall’s win was her first of the year and improved her overall record to 29-8-8-0 with $1,411,412 earned. The Irish-bred 6-year-old Sir Prancealot mare rebounded after finishing fifth as the favorite in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, a race she had won the year prior.

“I thought she had a big shot midway down the lane,” Cox said. “She did exactly what Manny (Franco) was instructed to do. He actually did exactly what (another rider) did in the race last year when she won it. The race in California, she never had a shot. I want to thank those owners for allowing her to run here at Churchill. She loves it here.”

Beau Recall returned $18.80 to win, $5 to place, and $3.60 to show. Newspaperofrecord brought back $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show, while La Signare paid $4.60 to show.