Four Graces Breaks Two Records in Beaumont Win

Four Graces made it three wins in a row and in record time July 10 at Keeneland, where she captured the about seven-furlong Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) in 1:24.90. Her time set both a stakes and track record.

The 3-year-old Majesticperfection filly and third-generation Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred is now 2-for-2 in stakes, both graded. Trained by Ian Wilkes, she came into the Beaumont off a 2 1/2-length win June 6 in the seven-furlong Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, which entitled her to be the 3-5 favorite at Keeneland.

"She had a good rhythm; that is the way she likes to run," said jockey Julien Leparoux, who has been aboard for all of her winning performances. "She ran free and made that big kick at the end. I'm surprised I broke the track record because she had so much left. She is getting much better."

Four Graces is a half sister to grade 1-placed multiple graded stakes winner McCraken  (Ghostzapper ), who now stands at Airdrie Stud. The Beaumont winner's dam is graded stakes-placed Ivory Empress (Seeking the Gold), whom Wilkes also trained.

Janis Whitham and her late husband, Frank, got involved in the Thoroughbred business more than 40 years ago. They became involved with Four Graces' family when Frank Whitham bought the Nodouble daughter Tuesday Evening for $75,000 at the 1983 Fasig-Tipton November Mixed Sale. She made only two starts but became a winner. She went on to produce three stakes winners, including grade 1-placed grade 3 winner Madame Pandit, who is the dam of Ivory Empress.

Ivory Empress foaled a full sister to McCraken  this year and has a 2-year-old by Into Mischief  named Milliken, who has been working steadily at Churchill Downs since June 12. The mare has produced five winners from as many starters, who have earned $1,648,443 collectively.

Four Graces broke sharply in the Beaumont and immediately threw down the gauntlet to her four challengers. She set sparkling fractions of :22.29, :44.37, and 1:08.83 for six furlongs. Going through the turn, Wicked Whisper provided a minor threat, but Four Graces pulled away easily to win by 4 3/4 lengths.

The winner paid $3.40, $2.40, and $2.10. Second-place Sconsin paid $3.20 and $2.40, and third-place Turtle Trax (also trained by Wilkes) paid $3.

Four Graces broke the track record set in 2015 by Two Weeks Off, who won an about seven-furlong allowance race on Keeneland's Beard Course in 1:25.13. Two Weeks Off, a son of Harlan's Holiday, went on to place third in the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) that year.

Wilkes said he expects Four Graces to stay at sprinting distances. When he consults with Janis Whitham and her son Clay—co-managers of the family's racing operation—Wilkes said they'll likely consider the seven-furlong Longines Test Stakes (G1) scheduled for Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.