Toinette Takes Terrific G3 Edgewood

LOUISVILLE, KY – Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale’s terrific Toinette took it to the heavily-favored turf rocket Rushing Fall in the stretch and prevailed gamely by neck to take Friday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Edgewood Stakes presented by Forcht Bank at Churchill Downs.

Bumped and bothered after breaking from post 7 under Flavien Prat, Toinette was forced to race near the rear early while a somewhat rank Rushing Fall led the field through opening splits of :24.40, :48.21, and 1:11.37. In the far turn, Daddy Is a Legend pressured the leader, forcing Rushing Fall to run harder than she might have liked. Toinette took advantage, altering position with relative ease before rallying hard down the stretch and nailing Rushing Fall at the wire to win by a neck in a final time of 1:41.70 for the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

“She broke slow,” Prat said. “I was expecting to be a lot closer than that. Around the turn, when everybody made their move, I was able to go around people and then just put her straight. She gave me a good run down the lane, and I guess she likes the distance, too.”

Daddy Is a Legend stayed on well for third, only a 1/2-length behind Rushing Fall and a 1/2-length ahead of Got Stormy in fourth. Altea was another 1/2-length back in fifth, but the rest of the field was strung out well behind. Beyond Blame came across in sixth, with Bo Peep, Kabella, Figarella’s Queen, and Beach Waltz completing the order of finish. Heavenly Love was scratched.

Toinette’s victory came in her graded stakes debut and improved her record to 4-3-0-0. The 4-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy didn’t debut until November 26, 2017, when she finished fourth at Del Mar, but is undefeated in 2018. She now carries a career bankroll of $198,920 for owners Ken Baca, Lisa and Nicholas Hawkins, and Joseph and Lynne Hudson.

“She missed the break and Prat didn’t panic,” Drysdale said. “He’s a very good rider. He’s a developing rider and he’s getting better and better and better. She got a little stuck in the rail and he was able to get her out. She has a great turn of foot, and when you ask her, she goes. She’s growing, so we’ll back off on her now. Now we’ll give her a breather.”

Toinette returned $12.80 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3.60 to show. Rushing Fall brought back $3 to place and $2.40 to show, while Daddy Is a Legend paid $3 to show.