Mighty Heart Ekes Out Photo in Blame Thriller
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mighty Heart (center) wins the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs
Lawrence Cordes' homebred Mighty Heart , the second longest shot in the field of six older horses at odds of 9-1, emerged as the nose winner in a three-horse photo with 3-2 favorite Night Ops and 9-5 second choice Sprawl in the $150,000 Blame Stakes May 29 at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by James Graham, Mighty Heart covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.00.
American Dubai broke alertly and led the field through soft early fractions of :24.32, :49.07, and 1:13.71 with Mighty Heart in close pursuit and Sprawl just behind those two. After racing near the back, Night Ops commenced a wide rally on the far turn as American Dubai kicked clear to a 1 1/2-length advantage.
Inside the final sixteenth of a mile, American Dubai was weary and began to fade as Mighty Heart charged between Night Ops, who was on the outside, and Sprawl, who was inside. The trio hit the wire together with Mighty Heart a nose victor over Night Ops and Sprawl another head back in third. American Dubai finished another two lengths back in fourth.
"He's got a big heart that goes with his name," Graham said. "He's a very tough individual. Every time he had a horse that came alongside of him in deep stretch he wanted to stick his neck out to make sure he was still in front. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to ride such a gutsy horse like this."
The victory increased Mighty Heart's bankroll to $794,759 with a record of 4-0-2 in 10 starts. Last year as a 3-year-old, Mighty Heart won the Queen's Plate at Woodbine and Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Mighty Heart returned $21.40 on a $2 win ticket in the Blame.
After American Dubai in fourth, South Bend and Guest Suite completed the order of finish. Silver Dust was scratched after acting up in the gate prior to the start.
Mighty Heart is a 4-year-old Ontario-bred son of Dramedy out of the City Place mare Emma's Bullseye, whose most recent foal is a yearling filly by Amis Gizmo .
The Blame could serve as a steppingstone to the $600,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles June 26 at Churchill. The Stephen Foster winner will earn an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Video: Blame S. (BT)
Envoutante Powers Home in Shawnee
Three Chimenys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds' Envoutante powered past Miss Bigly in deep stretch to win Saturday's $150,000 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.59 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Envoutante was relegated just off of Miss Bigly's early pace fractions of :24.14, :48.20, and 1:12.15. Hernandez and Envoutante overtook Miss Bigly at the eighth pole for a 4 1/4-length victory.
Envoutante wins the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs
"She set herself up well throughout the race and was much the best," Hernandez said. "She looked at the grandstand a little bit but was getting by (Miss Bigly) easily."
There was a trainer's objection by Miss Bigly's conditioner Phil D'Amato for interference in the stretch but it was disallowed.
Envoutante was the heavy 2-5 favorite and returned $2.80. Miss Bigly, Paris Lights , High Regard , Microcap , Istan Council , La Renoleta , and Goodbye Earl rounded out the order of finish.
Envoutante is a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Enchante, whose latest foal is a 2-year-old Classic Empire colt. She was bred in Kentucky by Jumping Jack Racing. Her owners, with McPeek as agent, bought her for $250,000 out of Baccari Bloodstock's consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her victory in the Shawnee, Envoutante improved her record to 5-2-2 from 12 starts with earnings of $541,738.
The Shawnee is the local prep race for the $300,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) June 26 at Churchill Downs. The winner of the Fleur de Lis will receive an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
"She does well with a confidence booster," McPeek said. "She ran hard last out (when second in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com, G1) and I'd like to win a grade 1 with her down the road. I'm known for more ambitious spots but I thought this race set her up for the Fleur de Lis. She loves this racetrack and once she's learned to win she's gotten better. I'm going to try and keep (multiple grade 1 winner Swiss Skydiver and Envoutante) separated and hopefully they both end up in the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year."