Tom Pedulla affords takeaways from the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, which carried a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic in November at Del Mar, and different main developments this weekend.
ON THE RISE: Kingsbarns, who gained the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby final yr at 3 and the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland earlier this yr, displayed a maturity that was missing as a sophomore when he captured the Stephen Foster by 2 ½ lengths from runner-up Pyrenees on Saturday. He coated the mile and an eighth in 1:48.09 for coach Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez. “I feel we’ve seen this yr he’s been in a position to settle higher than when he was a 3-year-old and present that new dimension,” Pletcher mentioned. “He sat an ideal journey immediately and actually kicked effectively when turning for residence.” Skippylongstocking took third with odds-on favourite First Mission fourth. Kingsbarns’ earnings ballooned to $1,559,060 on behalf of Spendthrift Farm.
BRED FOR SUCCESS: Juddmonte homebred Scylla, a full-sister (identical sire [father] and dam [mother]) to $3.7 million earner Tacitus and to Ohio Derby winner Batten Down, continued her ascent by profitable the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs. She closed from final to edge Shotgun Hottie by a neck and survived a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey’s objection in prevailing for the primary time at a mile and an eighth. “I assumed she dealt with it very effectively to get the longer distance,” jockey Javier Castellano mentioned. “She’s been one who’s stored enhancing in every of her subsequent begins to get to the following degree.” 4-year-old Scylla, a daughter of Tapit out of five-time Grade 1 winner Shut Hatches, is skilled by Corridor of Famer Invoice Mott. His horses are recognized for his or her skill to enhance with age.
NOT THE PLAN: Godolphin’s Ottoman Fleet, skilled by Charles Appleby, displayed a strong late kick when he rallied to win the Arlington Stakes at Churchill 4 weeks in the past. For that cause, jockey Flavien Prat anticipated to search out himself anyplace however on the lead in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 2 Sensible Dan Stakes beneath the Twin Spires. However that’s the approach it unfolded because the 5-year-old gelding simply repelled Chasing the Crown by 1 ½ lengths. “We kind of simply discovered ourselves on the lead and simply went on with it,” Prat mentioned. “He was touring so properly that I simply let him hold doing it on the entrance finish. Turning for residence, he nonetheless had rather a lot left within the tank to kick clear on the wire.” Ottoman Fleet, in profitable for the seventh time in 19 begins, turned a millionaire as his earnings grew to $1,088,717.
EYEING KING’S PLATE: Essex Serpent, making solely his third profession begin, stamped himself as a contender for the one hundred and sixty fifth version of the King’s Plate on Aug. 17 at Woodbine when he produced a robust one-length victory Saturday within the Grade 3 HPIbet Marine Stakes. The son of Honor Code, with Patrick Husbands aboard, coated 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.03 on Woodbine’s all-weather observe. Essex Serpent was one in all three stakes winners Saturday for Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse. When Husbands was requested about their prospects within the King’s Plate, he responded, “Let the horse discuss.”
NEW DIRECTION: Deterministic, as soon as on the Street to the Kentucky Derby, started a brand new chapter in his profession when he completed second within the Grade 3 Manila Stakes Saturday at Belmont on the Huge A in his first grass race. Coach Christophe Clement determined to make the transfer after the Gotham Stakes victor ran a disappointing eighth within the Wooden Memorial Stakes Introduced by Resorts World On line casino and fifth within the Peter Pan Stakes. The Liam’s Map colt missed overtaking Neat by three-quarters of a size within the Manila. “First time grass and he dealt with it effectively,” mentioned jockey Dylan Davis. Deterministic confirmed his greenness on turf when he switched leads a number of occasions in the course of the stretch run. “The whole lot was new on the market,” mentioned Dylan, who famous that his mount galloped out in entrance of Neat.