Danse Macabre victorious in the Mazelle under Adam Beschizza (Coady Photography)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— NBS Stable and Elements Racing’s Danse Macabre cut the corner at the top of the stretch to surge to the front en route to a 2 1/4-length victory in the fourth running of the $225,000 Mamzelle (Listed) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.
In the race before the Mamzelle, Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Warrant won the fifth running of the $175,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Kelsey Danner and ridden by Adam Beschizza, Danse Macabre completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:02.98. It is Danner’s first Churchill Downs stakes victory.
Sassy Nature and Shootoutthelights dueled for the early lead through an opening quarter in :21.95 as Danse Macabre raced just behind the leaders along the rail.
The two leaders swung wide entering the stretch and Beschizza shot Danse Macabre through an opening on the inside and quickly assumed command and was not threatened in the stretch run.
The victory was worth $134,040 and increased Danse Macabre’s earnings to $666,740 with a record of 7-4-2-1 that includes three stakes victories. She is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Army Mule out of the Blame mare Sylphide.
Danse Macabre returned $17.48, $8.48 and $4.76. American Apple, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, returned $9.84 and $5.24 with Anna’s Arabesque finishing another neck back and returning $7.34 to show under Florent Geroux.
It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to My Sweet Affair, who was followed in order by B G Warrior, Peacock Lass, Shootoutthelights, Sassy Nature and Lady Hollywood (GB).
In the Isaac Murphy, Warrant took the lead from favored Next in the upper stretch and then held off a late bid from Red Run to prevail by a diminishing neck.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Warrant completed the mile and a half on a fast main track in 2:31.03.
Warrant stalked the pace of Next, who set fractions of :25.44, :49.74, 1:14.74 and 1:39.37. On the far turn, Warrant turned up the pressure and the two leaders hit the top of the stretch together in 2:04.63.
Warrant took passing the three-sixteenths pole, opened a daylight margin and had enough to hold off the bid from Red Run.
The victory was worth $106,518 and made Warrant a millionaire with earnings of $1,058,893 with a record of 16-5-5-4. Warrant is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Constitution out of the First Samurai mare Whisper Number.
Warrant returned $8.62, $3.82 and $2.70. Red Run, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $8.46 and $4.44 and finished 4 ¼ lengths in front of Next who paid $2.70 to show under Luan Machado.
It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Decision Maker, who was followed by Calibrate and two-time defending race champion Lone Rock.
MAMZELLE QUOTES
Kelsey Danner, trainer, Danse Macabre, winner: “She’s a nice filly. I can’t believe she was 10-1. She hasn’t done anything wrong since she was a 2-year-old.”
Adam Beschizza, jockey, Danse Macabre, winner: “Was I given any instructions before the race? Yeah, don’t get beat. She came away from there well and when I asked her she gave it to me. We made the lead and I was surprised how far in front we went. I was looking around for something that was going to be breathing down my neck, but it never happened. This is a great confidence builder for her. She ran really well.”
ISAAC MURPHY MARATHON QUOTES
Brad Cox, trainer, Warrant, winner: “He’s a horse that I thought would get better with age. I was disappointed in his last race (when third in the Temperence Hill at Oaklawn April 2). He ran flat that day. He shipped here from Oaklawn and had a good week leading up to this race. He put it all together today.”
Flavien Prat, jockey, Warrant, winner: “The race went just as I’d planned. The other day (April 2, Oaklawn) I put him on the lead and he didn’t respond. Today I held him back and we had a target all the way around. This time I asked him and he responded. Perfect.”
