Sconsin Gets Easy Win in the Winning Colors

Lloyd Madison Farms' homebred Sconsin  picked right up where she left off last year, capturing a stakes decisively at Churchill Downs in her seasonal debut May 30 in the Winning Colors Stakes (G3).

The 5-year-old daughter of Include  went off as the 1-2 favorite against a field of four other challengers in the $200,000, six-furlong race for fillies and mares age 4-years and up.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione was patient in the early going, content to sit fourth behind pacesetter Joyful Cadence , who was stalked closely in the opening quarter by Tipsy Gal  and Novel Squall . Joyful Cadence clicked off brisk opening quarters of :21.72 and :44.36. As the field rounded through the turn, Sconsin glided into the middle of the track and steadily erased Joyful Cadence's advantage. Gaffalione only had to shake the reins for Sconsin to kick to the front and hit the wire three-quarters of a length the best.

Sconsin's final time of 1:08.18 was 11/100ths off the stakes record set by Dubai Majesty  in 2010.

"She's an incredible mare," trainer Greg Foley said. "She wasn't quite ready Derby week so we gave her the time she needed to make sure she was fit enough to return a winner. We had this spot picked out for a while and she rewarded us."

Gaffalione said the race set up for him just as he expected.

"I really love riding her," he said. "I've been joking with Greg for the last month to let me come work her. She's very special, and I'm so happy we were able to get her year kicked off this way again."

Sconsin returned $3, $2.10 and $2.10. Joyful Cadence paid $4.20 and $2.60. Li'l Tootsie  closed for third under James Graham and returned $2.80. Novel Squall finished fourth and was followed by Tipsy Gal. Euphoric was scratched.

The victory, Sconsin's second consecutive win in the Winning Colors Stakes, was worth $123,500 and boosted her career earnings to $906,862. She wound up her 2021 season on a winning note, taking the six-furlong Open Mind Stakes by half a length Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs.

She is the third foal out of her owner's winning Tiznow mare Sconnie, who was also campaigned by Foley after he bought her for $90,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Sconnie is out of the Forest Wildcat daughter In the Wild, making her a half sister to grade 3-placed winner Sentry  (Silver Deputy).

Sconnie has a 2-year-old by Paynter   named Badgeland that has not started. She was bred to Constitution   for the 2022 breeding season but her foal has not been reported yet. She has produced two winners from three to race.

Foley said he is unsure of the next target for Sconsin.

"I'm not sure where we'll go next, but I'm going to keep her fat and happy," he said.

Video: Winning Colors S. (G3)