Flavius Sets Track Record in Tourist Mile

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Flavius won his first start since moving across the pond last year and set a track record in the $645,700 Tourist Mile Stakes to conclude the opening day of Kentucky Downs Sept. 7.

A 5-year-old son of War Front , Flavius made his first three starts in Ireland where he won the Trigo Stakes and made his first start in the United States in November 2019 after a year-long layoff. The Tourist Mile was his fourth U.S. start and third with Javier Castellano up.

Whit Beckman, assistant to trainer Chad Brown, oversaw the win.

"He came to Churchill Downs last Monday. I am not sure what the decision was to come down here, but he had come from Europe and maybe he would like this kind of course," Whitman said. "It was a good decision. He broke better today than he has in his past two starts. Javier rode him beautifully and he kicked on. He showed a real turn of foot."

Flavius, the 4-1 second choice, was seventh of nine early. Blitzkrieg set the pace and opened with fractions of :22.51 and :44.77. Ivar stalked in second then took over to run three-quarters in 1:07.86. Five wide into the stretch, Flavius began to make up ground, picked off rivals, and found himself a length in front. His victory was threatened by Snapper Sinclair, the winner of the 2019 Tourist Mile, who was gaining from last. 

Snapper Sinclair got within three-quarters of a length of Flavius but ran out of ground before the wire. Flavius completed the record mile on firm turf in 1:32.21.

"He broke so well out of the gate today. I think that was the key to winning the race. Usually he breaks slow," Castellano said. "For whatever reason, he got better and better. He put me in a good spot early in the race. All the time before he was too far back, and he always came late. Today he put me in good position. When I asked him, he responded so well. I'm glad the way he did it today. I wasn't disappointed in him before; he always tried hard. Maybe he liked the track today, European style, up and down, curves. I think he really liked it and enjoyed the trip."

Snapper Sinclair was a length clear of third-place finisher Ivar. Neptune's Storm, Next Shares, Blitzkrieg, Parlor, Emmaus, and Ritzy A. P. completed the order of finish.

Trained by Chad Brown, Flavius has a 3-1-1 record from seven starts and earnings of $518,651. The Kentucky-bred is the first foal out of the Dynaformer mare Starformer, a multiple graded stakes winner for Juddmonte.

Video: Tourist Mile S. (BT)

Barrister Tom Upsets Juvenile

Bantry Farms' Barrister Tom pulled off a 44-1 upset in the $498,000 More Than Ready Juvenile Stakes and held on for a half-length victory.

The race was marred when Snake Doctor fell with Ricardo Santana Jr. up in the turn and was vanned off. Snake Doctor was euthanized after suffering catastrophic injuries to his right front leg. Santana was cleared by medical personnel to resume riding the next race, the Tourist Mile, on Neptune's Storm. 

Barrister Tom was bumped at the start and chased inside in third under Tyler Baze as Gypsy King set fractions of :22.21, :45.38, and 1:10.33 up front. He slipped through on the rail and edged to the lead to complete the mile in 1:35.71.

Michael Ann Ewing trains the Artie Schiller gelding, who has two wins in three starts and earnings of $317,055.

"Tyler rode him perfectly. Saved ground laying third. I am thrilled," Ewing said. "If you adjust his last race for pace his figure came back with a good number. He has trained awesomely since that race (Aug. 7) and I was hopeful. Maybe (he will go to the Bourbon, G2T, Oct. 4 at Keeneland) but hopefully we can go to the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf, G1T)."

"I had a beautiful trip. Michael pretty much just left it up to me. She said, 'You do what you think is right.' I had a perfect trip, got to the rail. What a nice little horse," Baze said. "He's got a lot of heart. It was nice for them to let me ride the horse. I don't know what he paid. I know he was about 50-1. I'm just excited. It's my first win at Kentucky Downs, and I look forward to some more next week."

Pivotal Mission and Indy Tourist rallied for second and third, respectively. Shawdyshawdyshawdy was fourth.

Barrister Tom, bred in Kentucky by Thomas Girardi, is the first foal out of the Parading mare Taylor Lane. 

Video: More Than Ready Juvenile S. (BT)

Plum Ali 'Incredible' in Juvenile Fillies

Despite hitting the gate and being bothered at the start, Plum Ali rallied to win the $462,400 Mint Juvenile Fillies Stakes. Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' daughter of First Samurai  is now 2-for-2 in her career for trainer Christophe Clement.

"She has been special since day one," Roger Horgan, assistant to Clement, said. "We never cranked on her before her first start because she was going to run long. This was actually an audible. She was going to run in the With Anticipation at Saratoga but it got rained off the turf. So we came here for five times the money."

Plum Ali, the 6-5 favorite, was eighth early in the 11-filly field. Sunshine City showed the way through fractions of :23.70, :48.23, and 1:12.62, but could not hold onto the lead and faded. Guided by Tyler Gaffalione, Plum Ali drove past the leaders four wide in the stretch and continued on to a 2 3/4-length victory. She completed the mile in 1:35.74.

"Christophe gave me a call this morning and said he put me on one of his best ones," Gaffalione said. "She was supposed to run at Saratoga, but with all the rain, he figured this was an easier spot for her. Great job by them. She came over ready to run today. Boy, what an incredible filly."

Flown and Oliviaofthedesert got up for second and third, respectively. Cecile's Chapter chased in third and was passed late to finish fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, Plum Ali is the second foal out of the Stroll mare Skipping. She was purchased for $65,000 by Cromwell Bloodstock out of Stone Farm's consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Her earnings stand at $331,000.

Video: One Dreamer S. (BT)

Dalika Breaks Through in One Dreamer

Runner-up four times in stakes company, Dalika broke through to score in the $182,610 One Dreamer Stakes. The 4-year-old Pastorius filly stalked the pace in second then held off late runners to win by a length in the one-mile-and-70-yard event for fillies and mares that have not won a stake this year.

Dalika, ridden by Miguel Mena for trainer Al Stall Jr., was a head behind Harmless, who led through fractions of :22.21, :45.22, and 1:09.39. The 6-1 shot inched clear ahead near the eighth pole then kept her rivals at bay to hit the wire in 1:37.45. 

"Nice filly for Al. He was hitting the board with her in Saratoga with Joel Rosario. She's always been right there. She was set up for this win," Mena said. "She's been training very well coming into the race. She was on it today. She broke very good, she was loving her position, loving the course, too. She was the best horse today."

Madita took second and Our Bay B Ruth was third. Xanthique was fourth.

Dalika was bred in Germany by Gestut Ammerland and is the second foal out of the Hurricane Run mare Drawn To Run. She made three starts in Europe at 2 for her breeder before moving stateside to run for Bal Mar Equine and Stall at 3. From 14 total starts she has a 4-4-0 record and has earned $272,505.

"This race had conditions and the competition helped. She always has been talented; she's grade 2 placed, but she has been aggressive (in the past) and we like to get her to settle like she did today," Stall said. "(Owner) Paul (Varga) and I will look at the First Lady (G1T, at Keeneland Oct. 3)."

Video: Mint Juvenile Fillies S. (BT)

Fifth Race a No Contest

Monday's fifth race was declared a "No Contest" after an apparent gate malfunction resulted in the stall doors opening while No. 6 Mechanicville and No. 12 Catman remained behind the gate. Track management said the owners of each horse involved in the race would receive $5,000 and each jockey $500 out of the purse account. The racing office will work on an opportunity for the horses to run back at the meet if their connections choose.