Positano Sunset prevails in the Open Mind (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Positano Sunset, winner of the Grade I, $650,000 Madison at Keeneland in April, returned from a disappointing sixth place finish in the $1 million Derby City Distaff (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day and a 133-day layoff to fight back along the inside rail and defeat Mink’s Palace by a neck in Saturday’s 16th running of the $297,500 Open Mind (Listed) at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Ian Wilkes, Positano Sunset ran 6 ½ furlongs over a fast track in a stakes record 1:16.14, besting Zeitlos’ mark of 1:16.87 one year ago. In doing so, she became a millionaire for owner/breeders Six Column Stables (Brad Stephens), Randall L. Bloch, John Seller and David Hall.
Gray Lightning broke from the rail and emerged as the early leader down the backstretch after opening fractions of :22.64 and :45.84 with Little Prankster chasing in second and Positano Sunset relaxed in third. Positano Sunset and a rallying Mink’s Palace engaged the tiring leader with three- and four-wide moves, respectively, at the top of the lane. The two match strides down the stretch but the classy Positano Sunset surged to the lead along the inside rail inside the final 50 yards for the victory.
“She broke really well and really dug in late to get the job done,” Leparoux said. “I’m really proud how she did that coming back off the layoff. She’s a really nice filly.”
Positano Sunset banked the $185,000 first prize and improved her record to six wins and four seconds in 18 starts. Her career earnings total $1,054,463. The Open Mind was her third career stakes triumph.
“This is such a special filly,” said co-owner Randy Bloch. “This is the fourth generation of this family we’ve had for Ian and going back to (former Hall of Fame trainer) Carl Nafzger. We were riding hard in the stands for her to get through and she battled back.”
Positano Sunset returned $3.88, $2.70 and $2.10 as the odds-on 4-5 favorite. Mink’s Palace, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $4.16 and $2.72 with Taxed another 1 ¾ lengths back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $3.52 to show.
Little Prankster was fourth and was followed by Gray Lightning. Impel was scratched.
Positano Sunset is a 5-year-old daughter of Goldencents out of the Consolidator mare Gigglin’ Gal and was bred in Kentucky by her owners along with the addition of Trish Henson.
Saturday’s race saluted the late Eugene Klein’s Hall of Fame filly Open Mind, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained winner of the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs who returned to the Louisville track the following spring to win the Kentucky Oaks. The New Jersey-bred filly was an Eclipse Award champion at ages two and three. A winner of 12 races and $1,844,372 in 19 starts, the daughter of Deputy Minister was enshrined in Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
