Churchill Downs: Kehoe Beach breaks through in Mrs. Revere

In her stakes debut, Kehoe Beach led every step of the way Friday in the  32nd running of the Grade 2, $292,335 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs to win the 3-year-old fillies turf race by 1 1/4 lengths over long shot Pounce.

Owned by Thomas Bachman, Kehoe Beach ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.45 to collect her third win in a row. Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori rode the winner for trainer Wesley Ward.

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Kehoe Beach banked the $175,700 first prize and rewarded her backers with $2 mutuels of $4.10, $3.06 and $2.60 as the even-money betting choice.

Breaking from post 3, Kehoe Beach went straight to the front but remained in the three path throughout as she rattled off comfortable and unpressured fractions of 24.35, 48.57 and 1:12.43. Pounce, who tracked in second, came within three-quarters of a length around the final bend, but Kehoe Beach had plenty of energy in reserve and drew clear with ease down the lane.

“She’s a super filly,” Dettori said. “She’s strong but has pace and is very sensible. She uses her breathing right. She knows exactly how to race which makes it a push-button ride for me. When I pushed that button, she showed a great turn of foot like she did last time. Wesley was full of confidence going into the race. He even made me stay here in the cold to ride her, and I wasn’t going to say no.”

Pounce, at odds of 34-1 under Florent Geroux, prevailed in a three-horse photo for the runner-up honors and paid $19.54 and $8.72. Poolside With Slim, ridden by John Velazquez, was another head back in third at 7-1 and paid $5.30 to show.

Minoushka, Buchu, Pin Up Betty, Simply in Front, Sanctify, Chilled, Pharoah’s Wine and Dancing N Dixie completed the order of finish. Neon Icon, Maxisuperfly, Adrasteia and Breezing Along were scratched. 

The winner’s share of the purse pushed Kehoe Beach’s earnings to $438,518 from a record of 7: 4-1-0. Before the Mrs. Revere, Kehoe Beach won a first-level allowance over seven furlongs on turf at Kentucky Downs in September and a second-level allowance over one mile on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 26.

“She’s really come to hand here since the summer and coming into herself as she’s a big, powerful filly,” Ward said.

Kehoe Beach will be given a rest over the winter and be targeted to Keeneland’s Jenny Wiley (G1) next spring.

Kehoe Beach is a bay daughter of Omaha Beach out of Street Cry mare Sweet Awakening who was bred in Kentucky by John Bates, Ron Kirk and Michael Riordan.