Churchill roundup: Graded stakes fill Friday undercard

Dynamic Pricing rallies late to win Edgewood

Klaravich Stables’ Dynamic Pricing ran down Way to Be Marie about 20 yards from the finish line to post a half-length victory in the 40th running of the Grade 2, $529,670 Edgewood for 3-year-old fillies Friday afternoon.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Chad Brown, Dynamic Pricing completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.10 over a yielding turf course.

Maxisuperfly raced off to an uncontested lead through fractions of :22.96 seconds and :47.90 seconds with Hard to Justify tracking in second and Way to Be Marie racing in the clear three wide a couple lengths back of the leaders in fourth.

On the far turn, Way to Be Marie went after the leaders with Dynamic Pricing on the move right behind her. Way to Be Marie overtook Maxisuperfly at the eighth pole and began to inch away from the field until Dynamic Pricing surged past in the final yards.

Dynamic Pricing returned $19.82, $10.16 and $6.64. Way to Be Marie, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $10.98 and $6.70 and finished a length in front of Dancing N Dixie, who paid $4.82 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another neck back to Maxisuperfly with Mo Fox Givin, Buchu, Pink Polkadots, Kalispera (IRE), favored Hard to Justify, Scalable and Band of Gold following in order.

My Mane Squeeze wins Eight Belles Stakes

William Butler and WinStar Farm’s My Mane Squeeze took command at the three-sixteenths pole and posted a two-length victory over Impel in the 69th running of the Grade 2, $534,300 Eight Belles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Friday afternoon.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Luis Saez, My Mane Squeeze completed the seven furlongs on the sloppy main track in 1:22.85.

Asternia set the pace with Halina’s Forte chasing in second through fractions of :22.46 seconds and :45.23 seconds as Saez kept My Mane Squeeze in the clear in third.

On the far turn, My Mane Squeeze went after the leaders and quickly took over at the three-sixteenths pole and cruised to her first stakes victory in open company.

My Mane Squeeze returned $15.84, $7.70 and $5.52. Impel, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $5.42 and $4.36 and finished 4 ¼ lengths in front of Asternia, who paid $8.98 to show under Manny Esquivel.

It was another length back to Halina’s Forte with Do Gooder, Lady Moscato, favored Denim and Pearls, Accommodate Eva, Tanya Showers, All Things Go and R Harper Rose.

Fast as Flight scores 20-1 upset in Modesty

TEC Racing’s Fast as Flight collared longtime leader Heavenly Sunday at the sixteenth pole and went on to post a one-length victory over Sparkle Blue in the 67th running of the Grade 3, $386,334 Modesty Stakes for fillies and mares Friday afternoon.

Trained by Martin Drexler and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Fast as Flight completed the mile and an eighth on a turf course listed as yielding in 1:50.63. It was the third victory of the day for Ortiz.

Heavenly Sunday set unopposed fractions of :24.40 seconds, :50.01 seconds and 1:14.83 as Ortiz gave Fast as Flight a ground-saving trip just behind the leader. Heavenly Sunday led the field into the stretch, where Ortiz tipped off the fence and moved into the clear for dead aim on the leader.

Fast as Flight took over at the sixteenth pole and held off the stretch runners to score her first graded stakes victory.

Fast as Flight returned $43.90, $16.50 and $10.04. Sparkle Blue, ridden by Jorge Ruiz, returned $9.80 and $6.42 and finished a head in front of Aspen Grove (IRE), who paid $6.10 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another neck back to Heavenly Sunday, who was followed in order by Papilio (IRE), Forever After All, Surprisingly, Mouffy, Queens Command (IRE), Join the Dance and Caroline Street.

First Mission gets up late to win Alysheba Stakes

Godolphin’s First Mission raced past longtime leader T O Saint Denis passing the eighth pole and went on to a four-length victory in the 21st running of the Grade 2, $730,000 Alysheba Stakes by for 4-year-olds and up Friday afternoon.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, First Mission completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.03 over a sloppy track. It was the third consecutive stakes win of the afternoon for Geroux and the second of the day for Cox.

T O Saint Denis rocketed to a daylight advantage and carved out fractions of 22.96 seconds and 46.77 seconds as First Mission saved ground along the rail racing in third. On the far turn, First Mission moved into second but at the top of the stretch he was still three lengths in back of the leader.

T O Saint Denis still had the lead at the eighth pole, but First Mission was in high gear and swept past for his fifth victory in eight starts. The victory was worth $450,910 and improved his career earnings to $1,273,020.

Favored in the field of eight, First Mission returned $4.14, $3.50 and $3.16. T O Saint Denis, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, returned $17.68 and $8.98 and held second by a nose over Il Miracolo, who paid $6.10 to show under John Velazquez.

It was another three lengths back to Steal Sunshine with Call Me Fast, Money Supply, Trademark and Pipeline following in order.

Ova Charged wins Unbridled Sydney

Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged survived an early speed duel with Stone Silent and then held off a host of challengers in deep stretch to post a neck victory over Secret Money to win the 14th running of the Grade 3, $332,000 Unbridled Sidney for fillies and mares Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Shane Wilson and ridden by Florent Geroux, Ova Charged completed the 5 1/2 furlongs on a turf course rated as yielding in 1:03.71. It was the second stakes victory of the afternoon for Geroux.

Ova Charged broke a bit slow from the gate allowing Stone Silent to take early command but Geroux immediately sent Ova Charged after the leader and the two hooked up through an opening quarter-mile in :21.91 seconds and the half in :45.30 seconds.

Ova Charged maintained a narrow edge through the stretch with the main challenge coming from Secret Money, who found clear running to the outside of Ova Charged but never could go by.

Favored in the field of eight, Ova Charged returned $3.48, $3.22 and $2.74. Secret Money, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $6.44 and $4.28 and finished a neck in front of Run for the Hills, who paid $6.74 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another half-length back to Medalla Match, who was followed in order by Elm Drive, Tony Ann, Stone Silent and Miss Speedy.