Bouquet Booth Romps at Churchill Downs

Right Time Racing LLC's Bouquet Booth, winner of the Delta Downs Princess (Grade III) as a 2-year-old and fifth in last year's $1 million Kentucky Oaks (GI), showed her class as she sprinted down the Churchill Downs stretch to win the $56,471 Thursday afternoon feature for fillies and mares by a widening six lengths over Rattlin Gypsy.

Bouquet Booth broke well and settled in second behind early pacesetter Sharp Tongue Lady, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.07. The 4-year-old daughter of Flower Alley, sire of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner I'll Have Another, took over the lead at the three-eighths pole and only increased her advantage from there as her five rivals proved no match for the graded-stakes winning filly.

Trained by Steve Margolis, Bouquet Booth, who was making her first start in blinkers, covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09.91 under Shaun Bridgmohan, leading rider of the Spring Meet.

The victory improved the record of Bouquet Booth to 4-2-2 from 14 lifetime starts and her earnings increased to $515,799 with Thursday's check of $36,360.

Bouquet Booth did not disappoint her supporters as the 8-5 favorite and returned $5.20, $3.40 and $2.80. Rattlin Gypsy, ridden by Calvin Borel, returned $5.60 and $3.20 with Grand Illumination, ridden by Corey Lanerie, finishing another 1 ½ lengths back in third and returning $4.60 to show.