Villandry Gets First Stakes Win in River City

Well positioned just behind the leaders early, Villandry swung out for the drive and drew off to victory in the $114,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) over a very firm Churchill Downs turf course Nov. 8 .



Gainesway Stable's Kentucky homebred tallied his first stakes win over a field of 11 older runners, overtaking 9-10 favorite Silver Max in the stretch and cruising to victory by 2 3/4 lengths. Villandry was ridden out in the final sixteenth by Julien Leparoux after opening a 1 1/2-length advantage.



Charlie LoPresti trains the 5-year-old son of Mr. Greeley who was cutting back in distance to nine furlongs after finishing a good third in the Sycamore (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland Oct. 16. The winning time for Villandry, sent off at odds of 4-1, was 1:48.54.



Hamp emerged from the pack in deep stretch at 37-1 to take second with Javier Santiago aboard, and it was 2 1/2 lengths back to the stalking Under Control and Alex Cintron in third.



Silver Max, the seven-time graded stakes winner who showed the way under Robby Albarado, faded to sixth with no apparent excuse while carrying top weight of 123 pounds. He carved moderate quarter mile fractions of :24.28, :47.77, and 1:11.95 while the LoPresti-trained Set the Sail prompted the pace.



Villandy raced sixth early before advancing to fourth on the opening turn while positioned toward the inside by Leparoux. The chestnut gelding maintained a good position, then was fanned into the five path rounding the far turn. He progressed smoothly on the outside of Silver Max at the top of the stretch and was in full command approaching the furlong marker.

"He broke well and put me in the race very nicely," said Leparoux, who felt keeping Villandry closer to the pace than usual was key. "All I had to do was get around two horses when we entered the turn and he did that and finished out strong. He always kind of breaks okay but always breaks a little bit further back and it's hard for him to make it up."



Winning for the fifth time in 18 lifetime starts, Villandry boosted his lifetime earnings to $258,204. He ran fourth in last year's River City, 2 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Potomac River, and is now 3-for-6 in his career at Churchill Downs.

LoPresti gave both of his horses a solid chance in the River City.

"We liked our other horse, Set the Sail, a lot in this race too; he was close last year in this same race when he finished second," he said. "Seeing them coming around the turn, I thought they might run 1-2.



"But it means a lot; we've always thought (Villandry) was worthy of a graded stakes win and he proved himself today. We had a great trip. Julien did a nice job and we're just happy for him to finally get it. Hopefully he'll continue to improve and be back even better next year."



The winner was co-bred by Joe Cornacchia and is out of the Swain mare Al Beedaa.



Carrying 118 pounds, Villandry paid $10.60, $4.80, and $ as the second choice. Hamp returned $23 and $13.60 and was part of a $284 exacta. The Brazilian-bred Under Control paid $6 to show.



Guys Reward finished three-quarters of a length farther back in fourth, followed by Set the Sail, Silver Max, Dramedy, Gentleman's Kitten, Greengrassofyoming, R. Great Adventure, and Aldous Snow.

Silver Max, an earner of nearly $2 million for ownere Mark Bacon and Dana Wells over a 27-race career, was well beaten for the third consecutive time. His trainer, Dale Romans, was clearly disappointed at the outcome.

"He had it all his own way," he said. "He's just not the same horse, I guess. You know, he doesn't owe us anything—he's been awfully good to us. He's got 12 wins and made a lot of money. We've had a lot of fun. We'll just have to sit down and talk about his future. Hopefully I'll train some of his babies someday."