Fulsome Flies Past O Besos to Win Matt Winn

LOUISVILLE, KY – Juddmonte Farms homebred Fulsome flew past O Besos in the stretch to win Saturday’s $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

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Fulsome and jockey Florent Geroux broke from post 5 as the 8/5 favorite and took back to the rear of the field of seven 3-year-old males as Helium led into the clubhouse turn before setting fractions of :23.75, :48.69, and 1:13.26.

After still trailing down the backstretch, Fulsome waited until Geroux gave him the cue mid-turn, at which point he unleashed a strong turn of foot that put him on even terms with O Besos (the 9/5 second choice) and a weakening Helium at the top of the stretch.

Fulsome pulled away with ease in the stretch before crossing the wire 3 3/4 lengths clear. The Brad Cox trainee completed the 1 1/8-mile fast dirt route in 1:42.88.

“I was pretty confident he could take some dirt in his face and got him to relax early,” Geroux said. “I was just hoping they were going fast up front after the slow break. He was able to go past those horses easily to win.”

O Besos was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Helium, with Southern Passage taking fourth as the 43/1 longest shot on the board.

Ready to Pounce, Game Day Play, and Sittin On Go completed the order of finish. Hello Hot Rod scratched.

Fulsome’s win was his third straight and second at the added-money level following the Oaklawn Stakes last time out. The Into Mischief colt’s record now stands at 7-4-1-0 with $373,854 earned.

“He had two solid works here at Churchill after winning the Oaklawn Stakes,” Cox said. “We were very confident in him by the way he was training. He got off a step slow, but he really finished up fast today and was impressive doing so.”

Fulsome returned $5.40 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.40 to show. O Besos brought back $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Helium paid $2.60 to show.