King Fury, Carribean Caper Shine at Churchill Downs
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Photo: Coady Photography
King Fury blows away the opposition in the Bourbon Trail Stakes at Churchill Downs
Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury scored a knockout in the inaugural running of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes for 3-year-olds Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs, romping by 13 lengths.
The Bourbon Trail was one of three stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs. In other action, Columbine Stable's Carribean Caper took the $275,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) and SAB Stable's Everett's Song the $275,000 Harrods Creek Stakes.
Though they also scored clear-cut wins, neither ran up a margin of victory like King Fury. Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., King Fury covered the 1 3/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:56.01, just .04 off Idol 's 2020 track record of 1:55.97.
"He was really impressive today," McPeek said. "We're very proud of how he ran. He's a really talented horse and showed that today."
King Fury, fifth early, advanced on the backstretch and second turn before powering away from the competition. Hernandez never asked the winner for his best.
The victory was worth $166,710 and increased King Fury's earnings to $579,449 with a record of 4-1-0 in 10 starts. Three of his wins have come at Churchill Downs, including a maiden win and the Street Sense Stakes last year as a 2-year-old.
Previously, King Fury finished fifth of seven in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Earlier this year, he won the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and finished second to Masqueparade in the Ohio Derby (G3).
"With a horse like this, you just really have to stay out of their way," Hernandez Jr. said. "He's run in some tough races this year and today he was able to settle in nicely at the rail around the first turn and turning for home he got clear and was much the best."
King Fury ($3), a son of Curlin bred by Heider Family Stables in Kentucky, is the lone foal out of the grade 1-winning Flatter mare Taris . McPeek bid $950,000 two years ago on behalf of Paul Fireman's Fern Circle Stables to buy the colt from the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York.
Bourbon Thunder was second, and Dr Jack third. Sermononthemount , King's Ovation , Gagetown , and Angkor rounded out the order of finish.
Video: Bourbon Trail S. (BT)
Carribean Caper Remains Undefeated
Carribean Caper similarly turned heads with the ease of her Dogwood victory, officially by six lengths. She raced seven furlongs in 1:22.57 under Colby Hernandez.
"Today's race was all her. All I had to do was hang on," said Hernandez.
"I was happy to see her leave the gate well and get to the outside," added trainer Al Stall Jr. "She's a really classy animal. I'm really proud to train her."
Carribean Caper romps in the Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs
This was the first graded stakes win for Carribean Caper, who previously won the Runhappy Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park in her stakes debut.
Stall mentioned the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) Oct. 23 at Keeneland as a possible next target and the La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park as a possibility later in the year. Both are one-turn races.
"Maybe in the future I could see her stretch out but right now she's doing so well sprinting and we'll try to keep her on that track," he said.
The $168,105 first prize jumped Carribean Caper's earnings to $345,595 from a record of 5-0-0 in five starts. She paid $2.80 to win.
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, the 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown is out of the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Checkupfromzneckup . She was a $250,000 purchase by her owner from the VanMeter-Gentry Sales consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
She is the dam's one starter from four foals. The dam also has an unraced Into Mischief 2-year-old filly named Bombdiggity, a yearling filly by Tapit that brought $990,000 from West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing, and NBS Stable from the Denali Stud consignment to The Saratoga Sale this year, and foaled a Quality Road colt this year. She was bred back to Quality Road for 2022.
Someone Said So ran second followed by Malloy in third. Shesa Mystery , Patty H , and Coppelia completed the order of finish. Li'l Tootsie was scratched.
Video: Dogwood S. (G3)
Delaware Invader Everett's Song Delivers
The last of the three stakes was the Harrods Creek, a race in which Delaware Park invader Everett's Song rallied to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Trained by Dale Bennett and ridden by Pablo Morales, he raced seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.68 to give the trainer, jockey, and the ownership group, headed by Diane Olson, their first wins at Churchill Downs. The winner's share of $162,525 increased Everett's Song's earnings to $226,525 with a record of 3-1-0 in four starts.
"I owe it all to my owners for wanting to run in this spot," Bennett said. "I thought the distance would fit him just fine from his previous three races."
Everett's Song captures the Harrods Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs
A maiden winner in July and three-length victor of a first-level allowance optional claimer in August at Pimlico Race Course, Everett's Song, a 3-year-old gelding by Liam's Map , returned $27.60 to win.
Everett's Song was bred in Kentucky by Maccabee Farm out of the Indian Charlie mare Pelipa. He was a $20,000 purchase by Olson from Grassroots Training & Sales at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Pelipa has since produced Texas Frost, an unraced 2-year-old Frosted colt, and a weanling full brother to Everett's Song. She was bred to Wildcat Red for 2022.
He'smyhoneybadger was second, while Ram showed. Bob's Edge , the tepid 3-1 favorite, was fourth and was followed by Emerald Forest , Wolfie's Dynaghost , Flags Up , Dreamer's Disease , Shadow Matter , and Irish Unity .