Blue Prize Edges Champagne Problems in Locust Grove
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Photo: Adrianna Lynch
Blue Prize (inside) gets the best of Champagne Problems to win the Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs
Blue Prize loves Churchill Downs.
Even with a new rider in the irons and a slightly different trip than she's used to, Merriebelle Stable's 5-year-old daughter of Pure Prize put in a tenacious run Sept. 15 and turned back fellow graded stakes winner Champagne Problems to win the $100,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G3) by a nose. It was her second consecutive win at the Louisville track and her third there overall. In five starts at Churchill, she has never finished worse than second.
The win sets Blue Prize up for a run in the Nov. 3 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at the Louisville track. She qualified for an automatic berth in the race when she won the June 16 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2), also run at Churchill.
With Julien Leparoux in the irons for the first time for the 1 1/16-mile Locust Grove, Blue Prize pressed pacesetter Streamline through comfortable early fractions of :24.53 and :48.96, as Groupie Doll Stakes (G3) winner Champagne Problems tracked third in a field of nine.
Blue Prize took the lead on the far turn but was quickly met by a determined Champagne Problems from the outside at the head of the stretch. The two battled the length of the stretch, but Blue Prize, who raced down on the inside, narrowly prevailed in the long drive to the wire.
Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Blue Prize covered the distance on a fast main track in 1:43.69.
"She's not used to running up close to the pace as she did today," Correas said. "There really wasn't that much pace in the race, but we know one thing is for sure—she loves this track. She's done so well in all of her starts here and it's great the Breeders' Cup is here. We're going and we're excited."
Blue Prize returned $3.80, $2.60, and $2.20 across the board. Champagne Problems returned $3.40 and $2.80. Mannerly finished another 6 1/4 lengths back in third, and was worth $5.80.
"This was the first time I've been on this horse in the afternoon, but she was relaxed and moving very easily the entire time," Leparoux said. "I breezed her about a month ago at Keeneland. She's a very classy horse."
The victory was worth $59,520 to Blue Prize and increased her earnings to $664,753, with a record of 6-7-1 from 15 starts. She was bred in Argentina by Bioart S. A. out of the Not For Sale mare Blues for Sale.