Dunbar Road Back in Winner's Circle With Shawnee Score
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Photo: Coady Photography
Dunbar Road wins the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs
In her first start since the Breeders' Cup, Dunbar Road found her way back to the winner's circle with a strong rally in the $100,000 Shawnee Stakes May 23 at Churchill Downs.
Peter Brant's 4-year-old Quality Road filly was second to last early, but there was no stopping the grade 1 winner once regular rider Jose Ortiz tipped her out turning from home. Dunbar Road put away a stubborn Chocolate Kisses in the stretch and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front.
The Shawnee was Dunbar Road's first win since the Alabama Stakes (G1) in August. The Alabama topped a three-race win streak that included the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) for the Chad Brown trainee. In the fall, Dunbar Road was third against older fillies and mares in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) before finishing fifth in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
Off as the 3-5 favorite in the Shawnee, Dunbar Road was seventh through the first quarter-mile of the 1 1/16-mile event. Flower Party, a 74-1 longshot, set fractions of :24.72, :48.66, and 1:13.06 on a fast track as Dunbar Road steadily passed rivals. Chocolate Kisses, the winner of the 2019 Honeybee Stakes (G3), and Awe Emma pressed the pace. She's a Julie, who won the La Troienne Stakes Presented by Inside Access from Chase (G1) over the same course and distance a year ago, tracked in fifth.
Ortiz guided Dunbar Road three wide as the field turned for home, and the bay filly rocketed to the lead. Chocolate Kisses dashed between Dunbar Road and Awe Emma and got within a head of the new leader before Dunbar Road pulled away.
The final time was 1:43.65.
"We broke a little slow, but she's so classy," Ortiz said. "I'm very happy she's back."
Chocolate Kisses stayed on for second, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Vault, who rallied from last. Awe Emma, Another Broad, She's a Julie, Moonlit Garden, and Flower Party completed the order of finish.
Dunbar Road was bred in Kentucky by Jeffery Drown out of the Bernardini mare Gift List. Brant's White Birch Farm purchased her for $350,000 from the Indian Creek consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. From eight starts, Dunbar Road has a 5-1-1 record and earnings of $758,040.