Sconsin Powers Past Rivals in Winning Colors
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Photo: Coady Photography
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione looks back for the competition after guiding Sconsin to victory in the Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs
A drop into a grade 3 from grade 1 company, in which she was runner-up to champion Gamine in the May 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1), proved a difference-maker for Sconsin May 22 in the $150,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Lloyd Madison Farm IV's 4-year-old Include filly stalked and pounced in the six-furlong dirt test, rallying from fourth to catch pacesetting Rising Seas for a 3 1/4-length victory. Full of run at the head of the stretch, she completed her final quarter-mile in just under :24 for a final time of 1:08.80 over a fast strip.
"She loves Churchill. Every race she's run here, she's run a big race," trainer Greg Foley said in a winner's circle interview. "And she ran awfully big last time. She made Gamine work for it, anyway.
"She even came out of the race even better. I really thought she was going to run big tonight."
Unlike in the Derby City Distaff, when Sconsin was compromised by a slow pace, things went her way in the Winning Colors. She broke on top, while favored Frank's Rockette was away a beat slowly, and longshot Headland even slower after stumbling.
The sharp beginning allowed jockey Tyler Gafflione to let Sconsin settle at her own pace, in contrast to Florent Geroux on Frank's Rockette, who hustled his mount to engage Rising Seas, with Tipsy Gal perched three-wide. Right behind this scrum, Sconsin lied in wait, a few lengths ahead of slow-breaking Headland, and once the field hit the stretch, she had all the momentum. She scored comfortably, paying $4.20 to win as the second betting choice.
"As you can see in that race, she had a tremendous turn of foot. She just needs a little bit of pace in front of her," said Gaffalione.
Rising Seas, a 14-1 shot who set fractions of :21.72 and :44.55, held second by a half-length over Frank's Rockette, who showed. It was just the second time in 14 starts that the latter had not finished first or second.
Headland rallied for fourth, edging tiring last-place finisher Tipsy Gal. Bayerness was scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by her owners, Sconsin has a 4-3-1 record from 12 starts and earnings of $546,512. Foley said before Saturday's race that a goal is to win a grade 1 race with the filly, mentioning the Aug. 28 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course as a possible summer target. She won a grade 2 last year and picked up her first grade 1 placing in the Derby City Distaff.
Sconsin is one of two winners from three starters out of the Tiznow mare Sconnie . The dam also has an unnamed yearling filly by Paynter .
Sconnie was a $90,000 purchase by Foley, as agent, out of Gainesway's consignment at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and she went 1-for-3 on the racetrack.