Augustin Stables homebred Regal Realm struck for a breakthrough graded stakes triumph Saturday when breaking first from the gate and leading all the way to win the $1-million Castle Hill Gaming Ladies Turf (G3) at Kentucky Downs.
Sent off at 6-1 odds under Florent Geroux, the 4-year-old Animal Kingdom filly was winning her fourth race from five outings this year and her fifth in 12 career starts.
She landed her first stakes win June 21 at Canterbury Park in the Lady Canterbury, then finished second in the De La Rose Aug. 2 at Saratoga as a tune-up to Saturday's lucrative 1 1/2-length win. The $604,560 winner's share lifted her career purse earnings to $819,757.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Regal Realm paid $14.16 for the victory.
Sparkle Blue finished second, and White Frost was third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
Ladies Turf Quotes
Winning trainer Jonathan Thomas, Regal Realm: “She's been training great. We were looking forward to getting her here. I thought Flo did a great job of getting her to the lead comfortably. She looked super with her body language. Took to the track very well. We're just thrilled. Really, really happy for Mr. Strawbridge. Great owner-breeder, fantastic guy to work with. So this was really special to do for him.”
(On first graded stakes win) “Oh yeah. She's a beautiful filly herself, great family, adding some graded stakes black type. And the million dollars doesn't hurt at all. We're just thrilled.”
Jockey Florent Geroux, 1st, Regal Realm: “She broke super fast and made the lead very easily. We just wanted to see how she broke. We thought she might be forward because of a lack of speed in the race. When she jumped very well I just took control of the race. Sh did it very easily and she really liked the track. She had more and felt great.”
Alice Clapham, assistant trainer to Graham Motion, trainer of runner-up Sparkle Blue: “She ran great. We weren't sure about backing her up to the mile, but she ran really well. Just maybe ran out of ground.”
Jockey Vincent Cheminaud, 2nd, Sparkle Blue: “She ran very well, we had a very good trip. The winner was in front and I wanted to relax my filly. She finished very good. I tried to keep my position in the last turn. I'm happy. The winner is a good filly.
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