Departing Squeezes Through in Firecracker Win

Suddenly the connections of Departing have even more options after the multiple graded stakes winner earned his first such victory on turf Saturday, June 27.

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred Departing and jockey Miguel Mena squeezed through a narrow hole along the rail—brushing the hedge at one point—to get past 8-5 favorite Sky Flight on their way to a half-length victory in the $200,000 Firecracker Stakes (gr. IIT) Saturday night at Churchill Downs. 

The race marked just the second career start on turf for Departing, who on dirt boasts a pair of grade II stakes wins and a grade III victory in 2013. The turf win snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to an allowance-optional claiming race win in April 2014 on the Churchill main track.

"Miguel did a great job riding him right up the hedge. He might have even brushed it, I don't know. It was very exciting though," said Claiborne president Walker Hancock. "I'm just glad he finally put it together and could get back in the winner's circle."

The victory also gives Claiborne Farm 33 stakes wins at Churchill, tying Calumet Farm as the leading owner in that category at the Louisville track.

"It means a lot to all the farm employees and everyone that's put in so much work over the years. It's definitely a special accomplishment," the 25-year-old Hancock said. "I've only been around for a few of these but hopefully I'm around for many more to come."

In delivering the milestone win, Departing and Mena raced behind a wall of horses through six furlongs in 1:13.32 as Frac Daddy, Sky Flight, and Calumet's Skyring battled for the lead. Mena spotted room inside and opted to squeeze through along the hedge just before the eighth pole. Branches could be seen moving but Departing punched through, quickly opened a clear advantage, and had enough to hold off a late run from Knights Nation. Sky Flight held third.

"We went for the hole and they tried to make it tight but he's a good horse," Mena said. "This kind of horse has that big heart. He was full of run. I have the horse to go in there. The trip was great. It set up perfect for us with some pretty good speed. He was just the best horse today."

Departing, a 5-year-old son of War Front  , entered off a third-place finish behind graded stakes winners The Pizza Man and Frac Daddy in the Opening Verse Stakes May 30 at Churchill. That experience may have helped Departing in the Firecracker, as he looked comfortable throughout and turned the tables on Frac Daddy, who wasn't at his best and finished last of eight.

Hancock noted that the turf win opens many options for Departing, who is trained by Al Stall Jr.

"Being by War Front they seem to run so well on the turf we figured we better give him another shot," said Hancock, who ackowledged that Departing also was considered for Saturday's overnight stakes, the Kelly's Landing, on the main track. "I'm glad we did."

In completing the one-mile race on good turf in 1:38.16, Departing picked up the fourth graded stakes win of his career, having previously won on dirt the 2013 West Virginia Derby (gr. II), Super Derby (gr. II), and Illinois Derby (gr. III).

Departing paid $10.40 to win, $6.20 to place, and $3.80 to show. Knights Nation returned $8 to place and $3.60 to show, while Sky Flight paid $2.40 to show.

Departing is out of the Pulpit mare Leave, who has produced three winners from as many starters.