Churchill Downs: Pin Up Betty sets stakes record in Mint Julep
Pin Up Betty, owned and bred by Kirk Wycoff’s Three Diamonds Farm, collared pacesetter Charlene’s Dream with a furlong to run and drew off for a 1 1/2-length victory Sunday in the 49th running of the Grade 3, $237,000 Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Luis Sáez, Pin Up Betty ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.55, which eclipsed Quite a Bride’s 2007 stakes record of 1:40.70.
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This was the second graded-stakes win for Pin Up Betty, who won the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs last summer as a 3-year-old. She finished second by a neck to Simply in Front in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) last month on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
“She likes to be on the outside of horses, so even though we lost a little position early, it probably worked out for the best,” Maker said. “We didn’t get the best of the photo last time, but thankfully we did today.”
Charlene’s Dream led the field of 11 fillies and mare in the early stages of the race through comfortable quarter-mile splits of 23.75, 47.45 and 1:11.35 as Pin Up Betty relaxed in sixth up the backstretch. Midway around the final turn, Pin Up Betty circled five wide to draw into contention. She caught Charlene’s Dream at the eighth pole and kept on to the wire for the triumph.
“I really enjoy riding this filly. She’s just a fun horse to ride,” Sáez said. “She tries hard every time. I think she liked the firm ground here today and seems like she really enjoys this turf course.”
Pin Up Betty returned $12.50, $6.40 and $4.36 as the 5-1 third betting choice. Charlene’s Dream, under Rafael Bejarano at odds of 7-1, paid $8.04 and $5.56. Movin’ On Up, with Frankie Dettori up at 3-1, was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $3.52 to show.
There was a claim of foul by Dettori aboard Movin’ On Up against Pin Up Betty and Charlene’s Dream for an alleged incident at the sixteenth pole. After review it was disallowed by stewards, and there was no change to the order of finish.
It was another three-quarters of a length back to Venencia in fourth followed by 5-2 favorite Deep Satin, Duvet Day, No Mo Candy, Adrasteia, Gavea, Serene Seraph and Neon Icon.
The $146,560 first prize upped Pin Up Betty’s earnings to $774,591 with a record of 13: 3-6-1.
Pin Up Betty is a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old daughter of Constitution out of Into Mischief mare I’m Betty G.