LEXINGTON, Ky. – Peter Brant’s Blowout (GB) went to the front out of the gate and then turned back a deep stretch challenge from stablemate Regal Glory to win the 24th running of the $400,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare for fillies and mares by a half-length.
By virtue of the victory, Blowout earned a fees-paid berth into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Blowout covered the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:34.86. It is the fourth consecutive victory in the race for Brown and fifth overall.
Blowout led the field of 12 through fractions of :23.76, :47.75 and 1:11.67 while maintaining a daylight advantage. At the head of the stretch, Regal Glory ranged up to the outside of Blowout and the two raced on near even terms until the final yards when Blowout spurted clear.
“As usual she showed a lot of speed out of the gate, and I was able to get myself comfortable on the lead where I didn’t have too much pressure,” Prat recounted. “She relaxed well down the backside. She fought really hard down the lane because she lost the lead for a little bit, but she dug in and fought back and really made a great stretch run.”
In posting her first Grade 1 victory, Blowout improved her record to 14-5-7-1 and hiked her earnings to $988,600 with Saturday’s $240,000 reward.
“She’s a really special filly for us, for my boss, Chad Brown. She does everything we ask. She’s improving a lot. She came here to Keeneland and gave a really good performance. She’s as good as she can be. She tries every time she runs,” said Baldo Hernandez, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown.
Blowout is a 5-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) out of the Deep Impact (JPN) mare Beauty Parlour (GB).
Blowout returned $12.60, $6.40 and $4.80. Regal Glory, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $7.40 and $5 and finished a half-length ahead of Empress Josephine (IRE), who paid $8.20 to show under John Velazquez.
“The filly ran well. I entered with a lot of horse and a lot of confidence. I asked her to run and she did, but the other filly dug in and she’s a nice filly too. I was very happy and content with my position. When I asked her to go, she was there for me so that’s all I can ask for. She ran a huge race,” Ortiz commented.
Favored Althiqa (GB) was another 1 ½ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Abscond, Viadera (GB), Harvey’s Lil Goil, Daddy Is a Legend, Dalika (GER), Hendy Woods, Star Command and La Signare (FR).
“We got in tight on a speed-favoring track. She ran a good race. We just needed a little more racing luck,” said Jamie Spencer, rider of fourth-place finisher Althiqa (GB).
Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.
Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares highlights three “Win and You’re In” Challenge races for the Nov. 5-6 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar.
For info on the Best Breeders’ Cup Seminar click HERE.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Tenacious Blowout bests stablemate Regal Glory giving Chad Brown an exacta in the First Lady (Keeneland/Coady Photography)
