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Sconsin Eyes BC Trip Following Open Mind

Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC's homebred filly Sconsin (Include) is on track for a second straight appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint following her tough, half-length defeat of Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) in Saturday's Open Mind S. on the Downs After Dark program at Churchill.

A pace-compromised fourth, just a half-length behind Bell's the One, in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland, Sconsin was winning for the second time in six starts this term, having taken the course-and-distance GIII Winning Colors S. by 3 1/4 lengths in May. Runner-up to Bell's the One as the favorite in the June 19 Roxelana S. beneath the Twin Spires, Sconsin was exiting a fourth to 'TDN Rising Star' and divisional leader Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Sconsin was second to Gamine in the GI Derby City Distaff on Kentucky Derby day May 1.

“She's just a classy filly,” trainer Greg Foley told the Churchill notes team. “[Trainer] Neil's mare is a really solid horse and they really battled last night. You get a little worried when the field is short about what the pace will be. They went quick last night and that helped us. In her two starts this year against Gamine they went almost two seconds slower for the opening quarter-mile.”

About 30 of Foley's friends and family were in the winner's circle Saturday night, but his son Travis was occupied with a bachelor party ahead of his Oct. 2 wedding.

“We would've loved to be there but we definitely had a good celebration after she won,” Travis Foley said.

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Just Might Wins Inaugural Louisville Thoroughbred Society At Churchill Downs

Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's 5-year-old homebred gelding Just Might led every step of the way in Saturday night's inaugural $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to collect his fourth straight stakes win with a three-quarter-length triumph over Endorsed. Even-money favorite Bango was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third.

Just Might, trained by Lovell and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, ran six furlongs in 1:08.71 after dictating the pace in the field of six 3-year-olds and up through fractions of :21.81, :44.75 and :56.53.

“He got into stride quickly and was on the early pace,” Bejarano said. “He traveled well and even though we were going fast he was doing it comfortably. In deep stretch, there were other horses coming to us but he was very game. He's been in great form this year.”

Just Might won for the eighth time in 29 starts and the $168,105 payday jumped the Kentucky-bred's career earnings to $688,414.

Just Might, a son of Justin Phillip, spent the summer at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., where he was victorious in the $100,000 Da Hoss Stakes on turf and $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes on dirt. His stakes-win streak began at Churchill Downs came in June when he defeated six rivals in the $110,000 Mighty Beau at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

“He's in unbelievable form this year,” Lovell said. “Turf or dirt, it doesn't really matter what the surface is. He runs so hard every time. It was great being able to celebrate tonight with 'Pappy' (Griffon). That made this win much more special. Pappy is such a lovely human. He's been like family to me and has been with me for most of my career. This horse is very special to us.”

Said Griffon: “He's by far the best horse I've ever owned and bred. I was hoping he would run in 1:09 tonight to try and back up the (1:07.93) last out. He went in 1:08 and change (1:08.71). He's run well on every surface but I think he loves the dirt.”

Just Might paid $8, $4.40, and $2.60 as the 3-1 second betting choice. Endorsed, ridden by Julien Leparoux at odds of 8-1, returned $7.80 and $3.60. Bango, with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, paid $2.40 to show.

It was another six lengths back to Mighty Mischief in fourth, who was followed by Dennis' Moment and Derby Date.

The race is named for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, which opened for regular hours of operation in March 2021. The Louisville Thoroughbred Society is Louisville's only on-site wagering by Churchill Downs in the heart of Louisville's metropolitan scene. The premier club for Thoroughbred enthusiasts is open for private membership applications, and reservations for special events are being accepted. For more information, visit www.thelouisvillethoroughbredsociety.com.

The post Just Might Wins Inaugural Louisville Thoroughbred Society At Churchill Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sconsin Outlasts Bell’s The One To Win Open Mind At Churchill Downs

Lloyd Madison Farms IV's homebred Sconsin got the first run on Bell's the One down the stretch in Saturday night's 12th running of the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., as she turned back a late run from the 4-5 favorite to prevail by a half-length in a clash of two of the top filly and mare sprinters in America.

Trained by Greg Foley and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Sconsin ran six furlongs in a stakes record 1:08.75 as the 9-5 second betting choice.

Sconsin, 3 ¼-length winner of the $150,000 Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs in May, was rated in fourth, as expected, behind pacesetter Mundaye Call who dictated the terms from the rail through early fractions of :21.64 and :44.77. Ain't No Elmers and Jungle Juice (IRE) tracked just behind the leader. Bell's the One, who improved her impressive record to nine wins from 19 starts and $1.1 million earnings after a victory in the $200,000 Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this summer, trailed the compact field of five fillies and mares.

Sconsin made the first move and had a two-length advantage on Bell's the One leaving the turn. Sconsin drew even with the leading trio with a furlong to run and out-finished Bell's the One to the wire.

“A lot of credit has to go to Greg and his team for getting this filly ready to go tonight,” Gaffalione said. “She was very sharp and we got into a good position early. There was some pace in front early. She dug in well late to hold off (Bell's the One). It was a really strong effort tonight.”

Sconsin, who banked the $185,000 first prize, improved her record to five wins, four seconds, and a third in 15 starts. Her career earnings total $783,362.

The career earnings for the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Include now total $783,362.

“Going into the race we saw there was a little bit of speed on paper,” Foley said. “She got the pace setup tonight unlike the Ballerina at Saratoga. Neil (Pessin)'s filly (Bell's the One) beat us in the spring and we got the better hand tonight. She deserves it. Tyler gave her a great ride. He knew Bell's the One was coming and Sconsin just had her measured tonight. It was our turn.”

Sconsin paid $5.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Bell's the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $2.40 and $2.10. Mundaye Call finished another four lengths back in third under Florent Geroux and paid $2.40 to show. It was another half-length back to Jungle Juice (IRE) and 6 ¾ lengths back to Ain't No Elmers.

“It was a great race tonight with two solid horses,” said Neil Pessin, trainer of Bell's the One. “Bell's ran a great race and we are proud of her effort.”

Saturday's race saluted the late Eugene Klein's Hall of Fame filly Open Mind, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained winner of the 1988 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs who returned to the Louisville track the following spring to win the Kentucky Oaks. The New Jersey-bred filly was an Eclipse Award champion at ages two and three. A winner of 12 races and $1,844,372 in 19 starts, the daughter of Deputy Minister was enshrined in Racing's Hall of Fame in 2011.

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Brisset Points Promising Two-Year-Olds To Street Sense, Rags To Riches At Churchill

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset began the September Meet with two trips to Churchill Downs' Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle for promising juveniles Great Escape and Yuugiri. Brisset reported Saturday night that both horses could be possible to make their next starts at Churchill Downs in the $200,000 Street Sense and $200,000 Rags to Riches, respectively, on Oct. 31.

On Friday, Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's homebred filly Yuugiri cruised to a 7 ¼-length romp at odds of 9-1. Just 24 hours later, WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's colt Great Escape broke his maiden by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 9-5.

The Street Sense and Rags to Riches kick off the start of the Fall Meet at Churchill Downs as the headliners on “Stars of Tomorrow I.”

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