Falls City Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Envoutante Upsets Bonny South Again In Falls City

It was déjà vu all over again for Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds' Envoutante as the 4-year-old filly upset favored Bonny South by six lengths in Thursday's $500,000 Falls City (Grade 2), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., for the second year in a row.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Envoutante ran 1 1/8 miles over a sloppy track in 1:51.52 – the slowest since Dundalk Dust's 1:53.37 under similar conditions in 2011 – to become the first back-to-back Falls City winner since Screen Prospect in 1990-91.

Last year, Envoutante also beat 4-5 favorite Bonny South by six lengths in the Falls City but it was over a fast track in 1:49.11, which was the fastest Falls City since Silent Eskimo's stakes record of 1:48.85 in 1999.

Breaking from post three in the field of six fillies and mares, Envoutante saved ground and raced along the rail throughout the two-turn race. Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Iowa Oaks (G3) winner Army Wife had a narrow advantage over Envoutante through the first half-mile of the race (:24.82 and :49.20) but the defending race champion took over with a five furlongs to run.

Around the final turn and six furlongs in 1:13.55, Army Wife continued to chase leader Envoutante as Audrey's Time and multiple graded stakes winner Bonny South loomed boldly with wide rallies. Audrey's Time drew even with Envoutante at the top of the stretch and Bonny's South came within a length, but Envoutante had plenty of energy left and quickly opened up in the stretch for the comfortable win in the 106^th running of the Falls City.

“Even though we were battling on the front end, down the backside she was still traveling very comfortably,” Hernandez Jr. said. “I knew going into the far turn and at the quarter pole my filly would have enough kick left in her for the stretch. She ran a great effort and repeated her race from last year's Falls City.”

Envoutante was the 5-2 third betting choice and paid $7.40, $3.80 and $2.80. Bonny South, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $2.80 and $2.40. Audrey's Time was another 3 ½ lengths back in third at odds of 21-1 under Corey Lanerie and paid $4.20.

Army Wife, High Regard and Crystal Ball completed the order of finish. Cheetara (CHI) was scratched.

Prior to Thursday's triumph, Envoutante finished fifth in the $500,000 Spinster (G1) at Keeneland. In May, she won the $150,000 Shawnee at Churchill Downs. Overall, she's won four of seven starts at the Louisville oval.

“She definitely likes Churchill,” McPeek said. “Brian did a fantastic job with her on the front end. When I looked up at the half-mile and saw (:49.20), I knew we were in a good spot. I'm sure her owners are celebrating at home with their families for Thanksgiving, so a special congratulations goes to them. We'll have to see what happens next for her. She had a date with Gun Runner if things didn't go well today but showed today she's still got it in her.”

With the Falls City win, Envoutante improved her record to 6-2-4 in 16 starts. Thursday's lofty $305,520 first prize jumped her earnings to $931,658.

Envoutante is a dark bay or brown daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Enchante. She was bred in Kentucky by Jumping Jack Racing LLC.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Friday with the popular day-after Thanksgiving card highlighted by the 147^th running of the $750,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) for older horses. The Clark goes as Race 11 of 12 at approximately 5:56 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first race is 1 p.m. There is a $195,484 jackpot carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6, which covers Races 7-12.

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Bonny South Headlines Falls City

Juddmonte homebred Bonny South (Munnings) gets the 9-5 morning-line nod for Thursday's GII Falls City S. at Churchill Downs. The chestnut kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with a close decision over Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}) in Keeneland's GIII Doubledogdare S. in April, but had to deal with the buzzsaw that is likely champion older mare Letruska (Super Saver) in three of her next four. Second behind that formidable foe and ahead of MGISW stablemate Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont in June, she was a no-show fifth at 1-2 in the GII Delaware H. over 10 panels July 10, but bounced back to run Letruska to a half length in Saratoga's Aug. 28 GI Personal Ensign S., defeating the likes of Royal Flag, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runner-up Dunbar Road (Quality Road) and champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). Bonny South was last seen finishing third to Letruska and Shedaresthedevil in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland Oct. 10–Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon) and Envoutante (Uncle Mo) were fourth and fifth in that spot respectively. Also stepping out of Grade I company is Army Wife (Declaration of War), who is cross-entered against fellow 3-year-olds for Friday's GIII Comely S. at Aqueduct. A clear-cut winner of the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and GIII Iowa Oaks earlier this year, the Mike Maker trainee was third in both the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 21 and GI Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 25.

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Bonny South, Envoutante Headline Field of Seven For Thanksgiving Day’s Falls City

Juddmonte's multiple graded stakes-winning filly Bonny South headlines a competitive field of seven fillies and mares that entered the 106th running of the $500,000 Grade 2 Falls City, the centerpiece on the 12-race Thanksgiving Day program at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Thanksgiving Day card at Churchill Downs has been a Louisville tradition since 1969. There are more than 7,000 turkey dinners scheduled to be served by executive chef Dave Danielson and his team. First post is 11:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) and the 1 1/8-mile Falls City will go as Race 11 at 4:22 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Bonny South bypassed the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Nov. 6 and stayed at Churchill Downs for the Falls City. The 4-year-old daughter of Munnings finished third in the $500,000 G1 Spinster to multiple G1 winner Letruska. Prior to her Spinster effort, Bonny South nearly defeated Letruska in the $600,000 G1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga but came up a half-length short. Bonny South finished second in last year's Falls City as the 4-5 favorite to Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L. Thoroughbreds' Envoutante. Bonny South will be ridden in the Falls City by Florent Geroux from post No. 6.

Envoutante is slated to defend her title in the Falls City. The 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo won the $150,000 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs in late May. Following her 4 ¼-length victory, the Kenny McPeek trainee had back-to-back third-place finishes to Letruska in the $300,000 G2 Fleur de Lis and Shedaresthedevil in the $400,000 G3 Locust Grove. In her most recent start, Envoutante finished fifth in the Spinster. McPeek's go-to rider Brian Hernandez Jr. will be in the saddle from post 4.

The Falls City field also includes Three Diamonds Farm's $1 million G1 Cotillion third-place finisher Army Wife; Lothenbach Stable's recent seven-length allowance winner Audrey's Time; owner/trainer Ignacio Correas IV's five-time winner Cheetara (CHI); WinStar Stablemates Racing's Locust Grove runner-up Crystal Ball; and G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s four-time Churchill Downs winner High Regard.

Here is the Falls City field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Crystal Ball (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset); Cheetara (CHI) (Julien Leparoux, Ignacio Correas); High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek); Army Wife (Joel Rosario, Mike Maker); Bonny South (Geroux, Cox); and Audrey's Time (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

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Envoutante Draws Clear From Bonny South To Win Falls City

Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old filly Envoutante led every step of the way in a powerful six-length win over 4-5 favorite Bonny South in Thursday's 105th running of the $200,000 Falls City (Grade 2), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Envoutante ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.11 – the fastest Falls City since Silent Eskimo's stakes record of 1:48.85 in 1999.

Breaking from the rail in the field of eight fillies and mares, Envoutante went right to the front and dictated a modest pace of :24.25, :48.95 and 1:13.21 while maintaining a half-length advantage over Our Super Freak, who was followed early on by Market Rumor, Bonny South, Smooth With a Kick, Cash Out, Another Broad and Over Thinking. Leaving the far turn, Envoutante was met by the pressers but she had plenty left and widened her advantage to easily draw away in the stretch.

“It was my first time on her for a race but I've worked her and worked against her before, too, with (Preakness Stakes winner) Swiss Skydiver,” said Hernandez, who also won the 2015 Falls City aboard Ahh Chocolate. “She really kicked away from the field today and was very dominant. At the three-eighths pole I got her into the bit again and she just kicked away. Riding for Kenny is easy and he didn't really give a lot of instructions. When the gates opened, she put herself into a great spot.”

Envoutante was the 5-2 second betting choice and paid $7.20, $3.20 and $3. Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Bonny South, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $2.60 and $2.20. Another Broad was another 3 ½ lengths back in third under Ricardo Santana Jr. and paid $5.60.

Our Super Freak, Smooth Wick a Kick, Over Thinking, Market Rumor and Cash Out completed the order of finish. High Regard was a late scratch.

Envoutante won the $100,000 Remington Park Oaks (G3) in her previous start on Sept. 27 and placed third behind Speech and Venetian Harbor in the $400,000 Ashland (G1) in July. The Falls City was her first race against elders.

“She was 1-for-1 at Churchill coming into this race,” said McPeek, who collected his first Falls City win. “We were very confident by the way she was working in the mornings and hoping she was going to put it together in the afternoon. She's worked against Swiss Skydiver and has really done well in her training. She's done a lot of traveling this year and got her graded stakes win in the Remington Oaks so winning another one was very special.”

With the Falls City win, Envoutante improved her record to 9-4-1-2. Thursday's $120,280 first prize jumped her earnings to $336,028.

Envoutante is a dark bay or brown daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Enchante. She was bred in Kentucky by Jumping Jack Racing LLC.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Friday with the popular day-after Thanksgiving card highlighted by the 146^th running of the $500,000 Clark (GI) for older horses.

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