LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing’s Beau Recall (IRE) roared past 1-2 favorite Newspaperofrecord (IRE) at the sixteenth pole and drew off to a 1 ½-length repeat victory in the $500,000 Longines Distaff Turf Mile (GII) for fillies and mares.
Ridden by Manny Franco and trained by Brad Cox, Beau Recall covered the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.39 according to Equibase in the 35th running of the race and successfully defend her title.
“I thought she had a big shot midway down the lane. She did exactly what Manny (Franco) was instructed to do. He actually did exactly what Irad (Ortiz Jr.) did in the race last year when she won it,” Cox remarked.
“The race in California (the Grade II Yellow Ribbon Handicap) she never had a shot. I want to thank those owners for allowing her to run here at Churchill. She loves it here. We sort of knew coming into this week that it could be a big week for our stable. This is our home and to have this sort of weekend on the biggest stage in the sport is really special,” he added.
Newspaperofrecord, who won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) here, raced unopposed through fractions of :23.99, :47.93 and 1:11.82 and maintained a daylight advantage into the stretch that vanished at the sixteenth pole.
“She knows how to get it done. 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,” said Franco who will be aboard Derby favorite Tiz the Law.
Beau Recall is a 6-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Sir Prancealot out of the Great Commotion mare Greta d’Argent.
The victory was worth $306,900 and improved her earnings to $1,411,412 with a record of 29-8-8-0. Beau Recall rewarded her backers with payoffs of $18.80, $5 and $3.60.
Newspaperofrecord, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $2.80 and $2.60 and finished a length in front of La Signare (FR) who paid $4.60 to show under Ricardo Santana Jr. It was 2 ½ lengths back to Juliet Foxtrot (GB) with Daddy Is a Legend and Belle Laura following in order.
“I didn’t have any excuse today. I really am shocked because she did everything the right way. She broke well, she wasn’t rank, she did everything the right way. And you can see the pace, :23 and change, :47 and change. The only excuse I can see is if maybe she doesn’t like this grass (course). I don’t know. She did everything right, good pace, good set up. Unfortunately she just got beat,” Castellano offered.
Brendan Walsh, trainer of La Signare (FR), who finished third, commented “We’re delighted with her. She ran great. Ran her race and ran really well. I’m delighted to be placed in a good race like that. She’s been very consistent this year. She won the stakes at Gulfstream. Very unlucky here in the Mint Julep (second by a head). Hopefully we can win one of these nice graded stakes before we’re done with her.”
Press Release
Photo: Beau Recall. Credit: Churchill Downs/Coglianese Photos
