Envoutante Wires Falls City

LOUISVILLE, KY – Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s Envoutante made every pole a winning one as she wired Thursday’s $200,000 Falls City Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Breaking well from the rail as the 5/2 second choice under Brian Hernandez Jr., Envoutante went straight to the front and ran unopposed through opening fractions of :24.25, :48.95, and 1:13.21.

Envoutante separated from her rivals when as Hernandez Jr. opened his grip on her reins and drew off in the stretch, crossing 6 lengths much the best at the wire.

The Kenny McPeek trainee completed the 1 1/8-mile fast dirt route in 1:49.11.

“It was my first time on her for a race, but I’ve worked her and worked against her before, too,” said Hernandez Jr. “She really kicked away from the field today and was very dominate. At the 3/8 pole, I got her into the bit again and she just kicked away. Riding for Kenny is easy and he didn’t really give a lot of instructions. When the gates opened, she put herself into a great spot.”

The 4/5 favorite Bonny South could only hopelessly watch the winner run off as she took second by 3 1/2 lengths over Another Broad, who headed Our Super Freak for third.

Smooth With a Kick, Over Thinking, Market Rumor, and Cash Out completed the order of finish.

High Regard was scratched.

Envoutante’s win was her second straight following an off-the-pace score in the Remington Park Oaks (G3) and improved her overall record to 9-4-1-2. The 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly, purchased for $250,000 as a yearling, has now earned $336,028.

“We were very confident by the way she was working in the mornings and hoping she was going to put it together in the afternoon,” McPeek said. “She’s done a lot of traveling this year and got her graded stakes win in the Remington Oaks, so winning another one was very special.”

Envoutante returned $7.20 to win, $3.20 to place, and $3 to show. Bonny South brought back $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show, while Another Broad paid $5.60 to show.