Denim and Pearls Dazzles While Cutting Back in Beaumont

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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Denim and Pearls wins the Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland

A return to one-turn proved a difference maker for Denim and Pearls  April 7 as she romped in the seven-furlong $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

Bred in Kentucky by Town & Country Horse Farms, Denim and Pearls is a full sister to Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Newgate . Given his success going a route of ground, it gave trainer Brad Cox optimism to attempt two turns in the filly's last two starts.


After finishing second in both the one-mile Year's End Stakes and 1 1/16-mile Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Cox chose to shorten the daughter of Into Mischief   to seven furlongs rather than continuing on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

"We thought she was a filly that would stretch," Cox said. "The owners recognized that she didn't want to stretch—didn't want the two turns—didn't want to beat her up trying to pursue the Oaks. I thought it was the right thing to do to cut her back, and she rewarded them in a big way today."

The big reward was a $244,900 first-place prize for Randy Gullatt's Red, White and Blue Racing.

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Denim and Pearls was energetic and eager in the paddock, taking a few kicks while walking around the saddling ring to signal her readiness to return to the sight of her maiden victory last fall. Breaking from the rail in the field of six, jockey Flavien Prat was able to easily navigate to the outside as the small field spread out.

Vicountess  set the pace with Cox's other entrant, Youalmosthadme , in hot pursuit. Denim and Pearls sat the perfect trip just two lengths off the lead through fractions of :22.99 and :46.41.

Ranging up outside the leaders at the quarter pole, Denim and Pearls soared past her stablemate and had nothing but open stretch in front of her. Given mild urging by Prat, she drew away to a dazzling 9 1/4-length win, stopping the clock in 1:26.54 and paying $5.58 to her backers at the window.

"She was traveling well all the way around," Prat said. "I didn't want to move too soon but she just did it on her own, so I thought to let her run from there. She did the rest."

Never worse than second, Denim and Pearls made her graded debut a winning one while tallying her third victory in five starts and increasing her earnings to $457,435.

Harbor Springs , who bobbled at the start before tracking a few lengths behind Denim and Pearls down the backside, rallied for second. Youalmosthadme finished third as the favorite.

Although not committing to where Denim and Pearls will run next, Cox referred to the seven furlong $600,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs May 3 as the "logical spot."

Five-time leading sire Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington for an advertised fee of $250,000. On an incredible roll, his 2024 graded victors include Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River, Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Leslie's Rose, Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Newgate, and Wood Memorial (G2) winner Resilience.

Cox will also nominate Resolute Racing's Youalmosthadme to the Eight Belles although unsure it will end up being her next start.

"I think she got a little tired, really sat a great trip. Just emptied out quicker than we thought," Cox said. "I'm not certain how far she wants to go either, she might be more of a three-quarter mile filly."

The three-time stakes-winning Oxbow   filly managed to pick up her second graded placing while returning from a four-month layoff.

"She'd been working really well, she had gotten ready quick," Cox said. "I felt comfortable running her based on her last three moves. She might want to go a little shorter."

Cox also mentioned the May 17 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course as a race Youalmosthadme would be nominated to.

Video: MiddleGround Capital Beaumont S. (G2)