Mitole Storms Home to Take Churchill Downs Stakes

Mitole had done nothing but flash speed in his previous five races, which he won at margins ranging from 2 3/4 to nine lengths. The expectation that he would eventually prove himself in a grade 1 came to fruition May 4 at Churchill Downs, where he took the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com (G1).

"He is for real. Everyone has been dreaming about his potential. Well, he met his potential today," said trainer Steve Asmussen, who celebrated the second grade 1 victory for the day with his longtime clients and friends Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. Two races earlier, they won the won the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) with Mia Mischief.

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The Heiligbrodts bought Mitole at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $140,000 from the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment. The colt stood out during the under tack show, when instead of following the turn after his work, he went straight to the outside rail and galloped out faster than any other horse in the sale, remembered Bill Heiligbrodt.

"I like fast horses. I figure if I have a fast horse, I can win a race somewhere," said the owner, whose relationship with Asmussen has produced more than 1,000 trips to winner's circles across the country. 

The owners and trainer were confident they would see the performance Mitole produced in the Churchill Downs Stakes. Though the colt was the pacesetter in his past four starts, jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. allowed him to settle in third behind Bobby's Wicked One and Promises Fulfilled, who hooked up early. The frontrunners took the field through brisk fractions of :22.38 and :44.71. As they rounded the turn, Mitole took the small lead with Promises Fulfilled. They had put six furlongs behind them in 1:08.69 when Mitole began pulling away. Bobby's Wicked One did his best to give chase along the rail, but Mitole widened his advantage and hit the wire 3 1/2 lengths the best. The final time was 1:21.21.

"The horse has been capable before of what he's done, but you see attitude and how he moves. I loved to see it come together," Asmussen said. "Ricardo's confidence in the horse and the way he rode him. He wasn't on his normal lead, but he was comfortable. He is a quality horse."

"Today we knew there was a lot of speed in the race, and it set up perfectly for him," Santana added.

As the favorite, Mitole paid $6.40, $4.60, and $3.60. Bobby's Wicked One finished a half-length ahead of Promises Fulfilled, paying $7.80 and $5.40. Promises Fulfilled paid $4.80. The $2 exacta paid $54, and the $2 trifecta paid $256.

Asmussen said the colt, a son of Eskendereya—Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie, will likely be aimed next for the June 8 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.