Envoutante Repeats Over Bonny South in Falls City

It was déjà vu all over again for Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds' Envoutante  as the 4-year-old filly upset favored Bonny South  by six lengths in $500,000 Falls City Stakes (G2), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs, for the second year in a row.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Envoutante ran 1 1/8 miles over a sloppy track in 1:51.52—the slowest since Dundalk Dust's 1:53.37 under similar conditions in 2011—to become the first back-to-back Falls City winner since Screen Prospect in 1990-91.

Last year, Envoutante also beat 4-5 favorite Bonny South by six lengths in the Falls City but it was over a fast track in 1:49.11, which was the fastest Falls City since Silent Eskimo's stakes record of 1:48.85 in 1999.

Breaking from post 3 in the field of six fillies and mares, Envoutante saved ground and raced along the rail throughout the two-turn race. Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and Iowa Oaks (G3) winner Army Wife  had a narrow advantage over Envoutante through the first half-mile of the race (:24.82 and :49.20) but the defending race champion took over with five furlongs to run. 

Around the final turn and six furlongs in 1:13.55, Army Wife continued to chase leader Envoutante as Audrey's Time  and multiple graded stakes winner Bonny South loomed boldly with wide rallies. Audrey's Time drew even with Envoutante at the top of the stretch and Bonny's South came within a length, but Envoutante had plenty of energy left and quickly opened up in the stretch for the comfortable win in the 106th running of the Falls City.

"Even though we were battling on the front end, down the backside she was still traveling very comfortably," Hernandez said. "I knew going into the far turn and at the quarter pole, my filly would have enough kick left in her for the stretch. She ran a great effort and repeated her race from last year's Falls City."

Envoutante was the 5-2 third betting choice and paid $7.40. Runner-up Bonny South, the 8-5 favorite under Florent Geroux, was 3 1/2 lengths in front of Audrey's Time in third. Army Wife, High Regard , and Crystal Ball  completed the order of finish. Cheetara  was scratched. 

Prior to Thursday's triumph, Envoutante finished fifth in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. In May, she won the $150,000 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs. Overall, she's won four of seven starts at the Louisville oval.

"She definitely likes Churchill," McPeek said. "Brian did a fantastic job with her on the front end. When I looked up at the half-mile and saw (:49.20), I knew we were in a good spot. I'm sure her owners are celebrating at home with their families for Thanksgiving, so a special congratulations goes to them. We'll have to see what happens next for her. She had a date with Gun Runner   if things didn't go well today but showed today she's still got it in her."

With the Falls City win, Envoutante improved her record to 6-2-4 in 16 starts. Thursday's lofty $305,520 first prize jumped her earnings to $931,658. 

Bred in Kentucky by Jumping Jack Racing, Envoutante is a dark bay or brown daughter of Uncle Mo   out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat  mare Enchante . She is the lone winner from five foals from her dam, one of which is a Classic Empire   2-year-old colt. Enchante foaled a Nyquist   filly this year. 

Envoutante was purchased for $250,000 by McPeek as agent for her owners from Baccari Bloodstock's consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Also on Thanksgiving at Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen saddled what is believed to be a record five winners on a single card at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Day. Records prior to 1991 are incomplete and no trainer had ever won more than four races in a day at the Louisville track since.

On Thursday, Asmussen won with Generator  ($5.60), Front Street  ($2.80), Regal Retort  ($6.60), Treaty of Paris  ($21), and All in Sync  ($5.80). He had a chance to add to his record in Race 10 but Dr. Jack finished sixth as the 2-1 favorite.

Asmussen, who is atop the fall meet trainer standings with 18 wins, is the winningest trainer in North American racing history and Churchill Downs' all-time win-leader with 819 victories. He is poised to collect his record-extending 25th Churchill Downs training title when the 21-day meet concludes Nov. 28.

Video: Falls City S. (G2)