Hard Legacy Gives Norm Casse First Stakes Win in Regret
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Photo: Coady Photography
Hard Legacy wins the Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs
Marylou Whitney Stables' Hard Legacy led wire-to-wire in the June 15 $150,000 Regret Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs to give trainer Norm Casse his first stakes victory.
Hard Legacy, a 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun , ran 1 1/8 miles over the firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:48.22 to win the Regret by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Julien Leparoux.
"Churchill Downs is my home, Louisville is my home. To win my first stakes win here is so special," Casse said. "I thought today would be the day. Hard Legacy had been training very well, we had Julien up, it was time to get the first stakes win. Hopefully the first of many."
Hard Legacy and Winter Sunset dueled on the lead into the first turn before the Casse trainee took command of the field of 11 3-year-old fillies through an opening quarter mile in :23.62. Leparoux slowed down the fractions up the backstretch with a half-mile time of :48.06 and six-furlong split of 1:12.94.
"She can break a little slow sometimes," Leparoux said. "Today she broke really well. I left her along and got her in a good rhythm. I got her to relax on the backside and she had enough late to hold them off."
Winter Sunset re-rallied alongside Hard Legacy at the top of the stretch but could not get by in the late stages of the race.
Hard Legacy returned $13.80, $6.60 and $4.60. Winter Sunset, under jockey Channing Hill, held second to return $5.40 and $3.40. Post-time favorite Varenka, at odds of 9-5, finished third with Javier Castellano in the saddle and returned $2.80.
The order of finish was completed by Belle Laura, Delta's Kingdom, Crafty's Dream, Gamblin Train, Princesa Carolina, Choate Bridge, Hungry Kitten, and Fortunate Girl.
The Regret Stakes pays homage to 1915 Kentucky Derby winner Regret, the first filly to win the race. Regret was owned by Harry Payne Whitney, the father C.V. Whitney, Marylou's deceased husband.
Hard Legacy improved her record to 4-2-0-0 with $164,500 in earnings. She was bred in Kentucky by her owner out of the Birdstone mare Stone Legacy.