Fulsome Claims First Graded Victory in Matt Winn
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Photo: Coady Photography
Fulsome captures the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs
All the genetic potential born into Juddmonte Farms' homebred Fulsome was on clear display as the field in the May 29, $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) rounded into the stretch at Churchill Downs.
The 3-year-old son of two-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of the family that produced multiple grade 1 winners Sightseek and Tates Creek broke slowly from the gate and tracked last through much of the 1 1/16-mile race. But at the top of the stretch, there was Fulsome head-to-head with close second choice O Besos for but a fraction of second—because he was in a full drive under jockey Florent Geroux that carried him to a 3 3/4-length win. O Besos held for runner-up honors, followed by Helium in third.
"Following the families from one generation to the next, you learn what works and try to put them in the best spots to succeed," Juddmonte general manager Garrett O'Rourke told Churchill Downs handicapper Joe Kristufek after the Matt Win victory. "It is a great thrill, and an education, when it does work.
"We have put a lot of faith in Into Mischief and have been rewarded. They are very sound and honest horses, and (Fulsome) comes from a quite strong female family as well. When you get to the eighth pole, that's what often gets you home."
Fulsome's win makes him the 10th graded/group stakes performer listed under the first two dams of his pedigree. His dam, a winning daughter of Distorted Humor named Flourish, also has produced grade 3-placed winner Mr Darcy . Fulsome's second dam, Viviana , is a grade 3-placed stakes winner and the dam of Sightseek and Tates Creek. Viviana is the granddam of group 1 winner and European champion 2-year-old filly Special Duty and multiple group winner Spirit Ridge, and is the great-granddam of Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Expert Eye and grade 3 winner Tide of the Sea .
Flourish has a 2-year-old colt by Point of Entry named Rimprotector that has not started yet and a yearling filly by Frosted . The mare was sold at last fall's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in foal to Twirling Candy where agents Nick Sallusto and Hanzly Albina bought her for $145,000 out of the consignment of Timber Town, agent for Juddmonte. She produced a filly April 27 for Newtown Anner Stud.
Regularly under the care of trainer Brad Cox, Fulsome raced twice at 2 but didn't get his first win until his sophomore season debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots where he won by a neck in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight on the grass. He went on to win an off-the-turf allowance race April 10 at Keeneland. Perhaps because of his success on Keeneland's main track, he was next tested on the dirt at Oaklawn Park in the Oaklawn Stakes, which he won by 1 1/4 lengths. The colt's success in the Matt Winn gives him is third-consecutive win in seven weeks.
The Matt Winn was a formful affair, with bettors throwing their greatest support behind the top three finishers. While Fulsome broke slowly, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Helium got engaged quickly. As the field rolled through the first turn, Helium went to the lead and was planted there down the backstretch, clicking off modest early fractions of :23.75, :48.69, and 1:13.26. The front end got crowded as the horses entered the stretch where O Besos caught and passed Helium while Fulsome attacked from four-wide off the rail. Fulsome stopped the timer in 1:42.88 on the fast track, returning $5.40 on a $2 win ticket.