WinStar's Tourist Shines at Kentucky Downs
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It was "all WinStar all the time" in the featured $300,000 More Than Ready Stakes Presented by WinStar Farm that highlighted the opening-day card at Kentucky Downs.
Tourist, a son of WinStar stallion Tiznow bred in Kentucky by WinStar and owned by WinStar in partnership with Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, grabbed the lead at the outset and continued to be forwardly-placed throughout by red-hot jockey Florent Geroux en route to a 3 1/4-length triumph over the undulating European-style turf course in Franklin, Ky.
Making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott since finishing 13th in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park last Nov. 1, the 4-year-old completed the mile on firm turf in 1:36.17. The winner, the second choice in the seven-horse field, paid $6.20, $3.20, and $3.20. Undrafted, the 7-5 favorite making his first start since winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot, tracked the winner throughout but could not keep up, paying $3.20 and $2.60. Longshot Skyring finished third, returning $3.60.
Produced from the Unbridled's Song mare Unbridled Melody, Tourist has won four of 10 starts, with three placings, and has earnings of $436,590. He previously won the Sir Cat Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and finished second in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IIT).
WinStar's Sean Tugel said the goal now is for Tourist to contest the Shadwell Mile (gr. IT) and take another shot at the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), both at Keeneland.
Tourist was one of five winners on the day for Geroux, whose additional wins were with Cajun Schill in the Calumet Farm Juvenile and Ruthless Quality in the Encore Juvenile Fillies , the other two $300,000 stakes on the card, which featured $1.5 million in purses.
David and Teresa Palmer's Cajun Shill made a bold move down the stretch, as the 2-year-old son of Artie Schiller posted an impressive victory in the Calumet Juvenile. The win was his second in a row since the William Kaplan trainee broke his maiden on turf at Gulfstream Park, and he now has two wins in four starts and earnings of $211,660. Bred by Sheltowee Farm and Tom McCrocklin, the colt was bought by the owners for $45,000 from the Denali Stud consignment to the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Ruthless Quality wore down Moms Choice in the stretch to post a length triumph in the Encore Juvenile Fillies. In her previous start, the Godolphin homebred daughter of Elusive Quality trained by Eion Harty broke her maiden over Arlington International Racecourse's turf course. She has now earned $190,620.
With a more aggressive marketing campaign this year and new innovations, such as premium seating and a tailgating area, Kentucky Downs attracted a healthy crowd on a sultry Saturday.
The on-track wagering of $158,891 represented a 30% gain over 2014 and the all-sources handle of $3,640,415 was up 36%.