Bowies Hero Powers to Shadwell Turf Mile Victory

With a big purse, a Breeders' Cup bid, and an ideal distance on offer in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 5 at Keeneland, a first-ever trip to Kentucky made sense to the connections of Bowies Hero.

With a powerful rally through the stretch to surge past a half dozen rivals to register a three-quarter-lengths victory, Bowies Hero backed up the confidence of his Southern California-based connections. As the race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" to the TVG Mile (G1T), Bowies Hero earned a spot in that race, which will be contested in his backyard Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

"It's a million-dollar race and we have the horse—we've always had confidence in him," said Joshua Flores, assistant to winning trainer Phil D'Amato, on the decision to ship to Kentucky. "It's a Win and You're In, so we figured why not take a shot at it. Going in, it looked like a wide-open race. We knew that if we could just stay out of trouble, he'd have a chance."

Sent off at 8-1, Bowies Hero settled in eighth through a contested half-mile in :47.23 by grade 3 winner Real Story, who was shadowed by Diamond Oops. Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, and Madaket Stables' Bowies Hero and jockey Flavien Prat had only slightly improved their position when they fanned seven wide entering the lane, where the 5-year-old son of Artie Schiller would deliver a strong final run to surge past rivals, completing the mile test in 1:34.20 on firm turf.

"I was able to put myself in the race, was able to tip him out around the turn, and get him ready to make his run. And then he got the job done," Prat said.

Diamond Oops and Julien Leparoux was the only horse near the lead early to be near the lead late, finishing second. Longshot Suedois rallied from 11th early to finish third, a nose behind Diamond Oops and a nose ahead of fourth-place First Premio. It was another nose back to fifth-place March to the Arch, who finished a nose in front of sixth-place Next Shares, who won last year's Shadwell Turf Mile.

Leparoux said Diamond Oops turned in a strong effort.

"We were close to the pace, broke very sharp; settled nice on the backside," Leparoux said. "He ran big today. It was a close finish for second and he ran a big race for sure."

Bowies Hero returned $18.40, $8.80, and $6.60 across the board while Diamond Oops paid $13 to place and $8.80 to show. Suedois paid $11.80 to show.

Video: Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1T)

With the win, Bowies Hero secured his second graded stakes win of the season as he won the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) July 21 at Del Mar. It's his seventh stakes win overall and second grade 1, as he also won the 2018 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita. Flores is looking forward to a return to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup.

"It will be nice to walk over; probably as one of the favorites—right out of your own barn," Flores said.

Bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Pope McLean Jr., and Marc McLean, Bowies Hero is out of the unraced Sky Mesa mare Remembered, who has two winners from as many starters.

Bowies Hero most recently sold at auction for $32,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he was purchased by ELA Racing Stable from the consignment of Sweetbriar Sales.