Coffee Clique Captures Distaff Turf Mile

Amerman Racing Stables’ Coffee Clique squeezed through an opening along the hedge to surge past longshot Dame Marie to score a half-length victory in the 29th running of the $336,900 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Grade II)  Presented by Longines for fillies and mares, the first of six graded stakes on Kentucky Derby Day.

 

Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Javier Castellano, Coffee Clique covered the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:34.66.

 

Coffee Clique is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Royal Academy mare Miss Chapin. The victory was worth $200,523 and boosted her earnings to $17,488 with a record of 10-5-1-1.

 

 

 

Finishing fourth a neck back was Ready Signal, who was followed in order by favored Centre Court, I’m Already Sexy, Miz Ida, Tapicat and Absolute Crackers (IRE).

 

CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF QUOTES

Javier Castellano, rider of Coffee Clique (winner)   – “I saw the way two or three horses have the speed in the race. I wanted to just stay off the pace a little bit. My horse is very brave. Turning for home, she split horses and kept on the rail. I saved all the ground. The most important thing on the grass is to save some ground and I think it paid off today.”

 

Brian Lynch, trainer of Coffee Clique (winner) – “I thought she settled lovely. It was a good decision on the first turn to take back a bit. He (Jockey Javier Castellano) said she was game down on the inside the last part of it and he didn’t really have to get after her. He could feel she was getting into a rhythm. We’ll be taking her up to Canada this summer for the grass program up there. This spring she has really come to herself.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., rider of Dame Marie (second) – “I had a very good trip today. I followed the instructions of the trainer (Eddie Kenneally) so I would not be too far from the lead. My filly just pulled me to the front and I could not stop her. I was happy with her effort and she ran pretty good.”

 

Julien Leparoux, rider of favored Centre Court (fifth) -- “She missed a little bit at the start. It’s not really an excuse. She always did get out, but around the turn today, she was just getting out pretty bad, both turns, and I kept losing ground because of that. I lost two or three lengths each turn and it costs us.”