An Oaklawn Park-raced horse has secured a spot in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Favored Blue Prize was a 1 1/2-length winner of the Grade 2 $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap Saturday at Churchill Downs, a Breeders' Cup Challenge series "Win and You're In" event.
"This filly absolutely loves it here at Churchill Downs, as do I," trainer Ignacio Correas said. "It was a great race from her, and it sets her up for a good year with the Breeders' Cup back here in November. She's improved since we got her from Argentina, and I think she's just getting better."
Blue Prize finished seventh in the Grade 2 $350,000 Azeri Stakes on March 17 at Oaklawn, her only off-the-board showing in 14 career starts. Following the Azeri, Blue Prize won the $200,000 Top Flight Invitational Stakes April 15 at Aqueduct RaceTrack in New York and finished second in the Grade 3 $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes May 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Ridden Saturday by Eclipse Award winner Jose Ortiz, the mare covered 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:50.02 and paid $6.60.
Farrell, who won the $125,000 Pippin Stakes Jan. 13 at Oaklawn, finished second to increase her career earnings to $954,777. Farrell competed in all four legs of Oaklawn's two-turn stakes series for older fillies and mares this year, running third in the Azeri.
Blue Prize, who began her racing career in Argentina, is a five-time winner of $605,233. The 5-year-old daughter of Pure Prize races for Merriebelle Stable LLC.
The Money Dance, an April 14 Oaklawn maiden special weights graduate, was the 6-5 program favorite for the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes Wednesday at Indiana Grand. The race was restricted to registered Indiana-bred 3-year-olds.
Trained by Mike Lauer and owned by wife Penny, The Money Dance broke his maiden by seven lengths on the final day of the Oaklawn meeting before winning an entry-level allowance race May 3 at Belmont Park.
The Money Dance bankrolled $113,520 for the two victories, including $18,720 in bonus money. He earned an additional $4,860 through Oaklawn's "Lasix-free Bonus Program," which offers a 10 percent hike to the winner's share of the purse for horses who win without running on the anti-bleeder medication.
The Money Dance received an additional $13,860 for his victory at Belmont because he had made his previous start at Oaklawn. Under the New York Racing Association's "Ship and Win" bonus program -- Aqueduct spring meet and Belmont spring/summer meet -- starters who made their last start at Oaklawn receive a "30 percent purse bonus applied to a horse's purse earnings" and a $1,500 shipping stipend. Stakes races aren't part of the program.
The Money Dance continues to race without Lasix and broke from post 4 Wednesday under Marcelino Pedroza.
Flurry, who trained this year at Oaklawn, was the 3-5 program favorite for the filly division of the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes Wednesday at Indiana Grand. Pedroza is scheduled to ride for the Lauers.
Chanteline, winner of the $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older female sprinters March 3 at Oaklawn, surpassed $400,000 in career earnings in a record-setting allowance victory Monday at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania. Racing over firm turf, Chanteline ($6.80) ran about 5 furlongs in a course-record :56.11 under Joshua Navarro.
Chanteline has a 7-6-3 record from 23 lifetime starts and earnings of $429,972. Chanteline, a 6-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection, is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, a nine-time champion at Oaklawn. Asmussen also trained Majesticperfection, a 10 3/4-length allowance winner at the 2010 Oaklawn meeting.
Cistron, winner of the $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes for 3-year-olds last year at Oaklawn, finished second in the $80,000 Siren Lure Stakes Sunday at Santa Anita Park in California.
Matrooh, a two-time winner this year at Oaklawn, finished third in the Grade 1 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap Saturday at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Co-owner/trainer Cipriano Contreras claimed Matrooh out of a March 3 victory at Oaklawn for $25,000. The 8-year-old Distorted Humor gelding won an April 6 allowance race at Oaklawn and the Grade 3 $100,000 Hanshin Cup Stakes May 12 at Arlington Park before the Stephen Foster.
Sports on 06/21/2018