Scylla took one other massive step towards the highest of the older fillies and mares division with a hard-fought victory within the $499,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs June 29.
Though the win was removed from her most dominating show, Scylla’s neck rating because the 4-5 favourite was her most spectacular win but. Trailing the six-horse subject after a slight bobble out of the beginning gate, the filly relaxed comfortably behind the pack below Javier Castellano and responded with a blinding five-wide transfer across the closing bend.
Louisiana-bred Free Like a Woman , the early race chief via fractions of :24.07 and :48.83, gave solution to her encroaching rivals halfway via the flip. Taxed , who utilized gentle strain to the pacesetter all through, pounced first, grabbing command earlier than being thwarted by Occult , Xigera , and an oncoming Scylla previous the quarter pole.
The race changed into a recreation of bumper automobiles on the closing furlong marker. Xigera, who was making an attempt to advance between horses, bumped with Occult to her inside, misplaced her path and fell again. Scylla, who got here in barely from her outdoors path, was least affected. Castellano corrected his mount and maintained a straight path to the wire, the place the Tapit filly prevailed by a neck over a fast-closing Shotgun Hottie .
Shotgun Hottie, who prevented the eighth-pole visitors flurry, lower to the within and stormed up the paint to get second by a size over Taxed.
Educated by Corridor of Famer Invoice Mott, Scylla ($3.82) clocked 1:49.45 in her first journey over the 1 1/8-mile distance on a quick important monitor.
“This was the primary begin she went a mile-and-an-eighth and I assumed she dealt with it very properly to get the longer distance,” stated Castellano, who has ridden Scylla in all seven of her lifetime begins. “She’s been one who’s saved bettering in every of her begins to get to the following degree.”
A ten-minute inquiry into the bumping incident adopted after the race, however the stewards declared no change to the order of the end.
The Fleur de Lis marked the second stakes win for Juddmonte homebred Scylla, and improved her bankroll to $721,045. She stays excellent, now 4-for-4, over the Churchill oval.
“We needed to sweat issues out in the present day with the inquiry however we’re very proud to have gained this race,” stated Garrett O’Rourke, normal supervisor for Juddmonte Farms USA. “She’s a wonderful filly and getting higher each time she runs. It is further particular along with her dam being a champion in her personal proper and producing gifted runners right here for us. I am unsure the place we’ll head subsequent however we’re extraordinarily happy seeing her win once more.”
Juddmonte campaigned Scylla’s dam, 2014 Eclipse Award champion older mare Shut Hatches in addition to her a number of graded stakes-winning older full brother Tacitus . Scylla’s title hasn’t been the one one within the household presently making headlines, as her youthful 3-year-old brother Batten Down , additionally educated by Mott, just lately romped within the Ohio Derby (G3) below the Juddmonte colours.
The Fleur de Lis is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Filth Dozen Bonus Sequence, awarding $30,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner-up, and $7,500 to the third-place finisher to use towards entry charges for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
