Stark Contrast wins the American Turf in dominating fashion, Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire
Churchill Downs Press
LOUISVILLE, KY – Amerman Racing Stables’ homebred Stark Contrast blew past Honey Dutch at the eighth pole and then held off a late bid from Remember Mamba by 2 ¼ lengths to win the 35th running of the $1 million American Turf (GI) presented by the United Football League for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Flavien Prat, Stark Contrast completed the mile and a sixteenth over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:40.31. It is the fourth win in the race for Prat with previous victories coming with Zulu Kingdom (IRE) last year, Stolen Base in 2022 and Du Jour in 2021.
Honey Dutch took over the lead on the backstretch from Street Beast and carried a daylight advantage into the stretch. Stark Contrast launched his bid with a five-wide move at the head of the lane, took over at midstretch and cruised home.
Stark Contrast is a Kentucky-bred son of Caravaggio out of the Quality Road mare Catch the Eye. Now a three-time stakes winner, Stark Contrast has a record of 7-4-2-0 with earnings of $1,066,060 that includes Saturday’s $573,360 check.
Sent off as the favorite, Stark Contrast returned $4.40, $2.88 and $2.46. Remember Mamba, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $4.18 and $3.08 and finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of Honey Dutch who paid $4.56 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to Alpyland who was followed in order by Blinging It Back, Let’s Be Frank, Black Hornet, Vasy (IRE), Steel Imperium, Greenwich Village, Street Beast, Thousandsticks and Final Score.
AMERICAN TURF QUOTES
Flavien Prat (Jockey, Stark Contrast, winner) – “My only instructions were to get him in a good spot. I did that. He’s a good horse; he’s a very good horse.”
Michael McCarthy (Trainer, Stark Contrast, winner) – “I can’t tell you how highly I thought about this horse. He got a little sick on us over the winter. We were able to reroute and go to the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Flavien (Prat) speaks for himself and he gave him a great trip. Mr. and Mrs. Amerman are not here today but I really wish they were.”
Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Remember Mamba, second) – “It was a difficult post position from the 12. I was way out there and I dropped back further than I wanted to. I wanted to save ground and had an OK trip but in the first turn, I lost my chance to win. The winner is really nice. My horse will improve with distance like the Belmont Derby.
Tyler Gaffalione (Jockey, Honey Dutch, third) – “He was moving really well turning for him and thought we had a chance to win but once I saw the winner coming at me, I knew I might in trouble. It was a great effort though.”
