Break Even runs 'almost like Monomoy Girl' in Eight Belles win

Klein Racing’s Break Even shot to the front out of the gate and never was threatened in romping to a 5 ½-length victory over Bell’s the One in the 64th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Eight Belles for 3-year-old fillies, the first of six graded stakes on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Break Even covered the seven furlongs on a muddy track in 1:22.13. For Cox, it was his second victory in the race having scored with Benner Island in 2017.

“This filly is very fast," said the trainer, adding he'd look to Belmont Park's Acorn (G1) next. "And I think the most impressive thing about her is how laid back she is.  A lot of times horses that go that fast are horses that tend to be keyed up and want to over train in the mornings. Not this filly.

"She just gallops around each morning nice and easy with her ears up. It’s almost like Monomoy Girl to some degree, she was like back like that. Same thing with this filly. For such a lightly raced filly she’s very mature.”

It was Bridgmohan’s 700th career Churchill Downs victory and second in the Eight Belles having won with Four Gifts in 2009.

In winning her first graded stakes, Break Even quickly opened a daylight advantage and led the field of nine through fractions of :22.08 and :44.14. No one came close to the Klein homebred through the stretch. 

The victory was worth $148,800 and increased her earnings to $287,400 with her fourth consecutive triumph. Break Even is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Klein’s stallion Country Day out of the Saint Ballado mare Exotic Wager.

Sent off as the favorite, Break Even returned $6.40, $4.40 and $3.40. Bell’s the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $16.60 and $8.40 and finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Queen of Beas, who paid $4.20 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another head back to Proud Emma, who was followed in order by Bizwhacks, Mother Mother, Del Mar May, Lyrical Lady and Take Charge Angel.