Buchu after capturing the Appalachian (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
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Keeneland Barn Notes
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Rigney Racing’s Buchu returned to her home base at Churchill Downs the evening following her half-length victory in Saturday’s Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.
“Everything is pretty good this morning,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “We were very happy with her. She bobbled a little bit in the stretch but galloped out well, and that was nice to see.”
Saturday’s victory was the second at Keeneland for Buchu, winner of the Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November last fall. Martin Garcia was aboard for both victories.
Following the Jessamine, Buchu went to Santa Anita and finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to complete her 2-year-old campaign.
“In a perfect world, I probably would have liked her to fill out more,” Bauer said of Buchu’s transformation from age 2 to 3. “She is a long, light filly and probably spacing her races would be to her benefit. I am not looking too far ahead; just the one next month.”
Next for Buchu figures to be the $600,000 Edgewood (G2) on May 3 at Churchill. Bauer said the original plan was to have her make her 2024 debut in that race.
“Everything came together real quick, and her work two weeks ago gave us a good feeling,” he said. “It makes our job easier.”
