Derby undercard: Obligatory rallies to win Derby City Distaff

Juddmonte homebred Obligatory, last at the head of the stretch, rallied widest of all to post a three-quarters of a length victory over Four Graces to win the 36th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Derby City Distaff for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Obligatory completed the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.17. It is the second victory for Mott in the race and the third for Ortiz.

Just One Time opened a clear lead as she carved out fractions of 22.36 and 44.95 seconds, with Center Aisle and Edgeway in closest pursuit. On the turn, Center Aisle dropped back and Four Graces entered the fray while 2020 winner Bell’s the One began to close in with Obligatory behind her.

At the top of the stretch, Obligatory was still last when she launched her five-wide move that carried her to the front passing Four Graces inside the sixteenth pole.

Now 3-for-3 at Churchill Downs with victories in the Eight Belles (G2) and Chilukki (G3), Obligatory is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Macho Uno mare Uno Duo. In notching her first Grade 1 victory. Obligatory improved her record to 11: 5-2-0 and increased her earnings to $1,228,594 with Saturday’s $455,700 check.

Obligatory rewarded her backers with mutuels of $9.60, $5.20 and $3.20. Four Graces, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $11.80 and $4.80 with favored Just One Time finishing another 2 1/2 lengths back in third under Flavien Prat and paying $2.60 to show.

Bell’s the One finished another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Kimari, Edgeway and Center Aisle.

“She’s a very nice mare," Ortiz said. "I feel like she’s getting better and better. I just waited and let her get into her own rhythm. They were going very fast on the front end. I was sitting at the back of the pack. I didn’t want to sweep her off her feet to get a good finish. I was very happy with the trip I had. I swung a little wide because I felt like I had enough (horse).”

Mott said, “the only thing I reminded Jose about beforehand was something he knew: Her stretch run is her weapon. The goal with a filly like this is to get her a Grade 1. She loves Churchill; for whatever reason she just really does well at this track. She’s won a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 here, so we pointed for this race to get her her Grade 1. Glad she got it.”

American Turf 

Stolen Base regained the lead from Balnikhov (IRE) at the sixteenth pole and went on to a 1 1/4-length victory in the 31st running of the $500,000 American Turf (G2) for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon.

Owned by Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse, trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Flavien Prat, Stolen Base completed the mile and a sixteenth on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:44.57. It is the second victory in the race for Maker and Prat.

Dowagiac Chief led the field of 10 through fractions of 23.97 and 49.27 seconds as Stolen Base raced in mid-pack on the outside of horses.

On the far turn, Stolen Base began a five-wide wide with Balnikhov sweeping up to his outside. Balnikhov had the momentum entering the stretch but Stolen Base battled back and took the lead at the sixteenth and prevailed for his first stakes victory.

Stolen Base is a Kentucky-bred son of Bodemeister out of the Indian Charlie mare Running Wild. The victory was worth $294,500 and increased Stolen Base’s earnings to $468,700 with a record of 9: 2-3-1.

Stolen Base returned $13.20, $6.60 and $4. Balnikhov, ridden by Manny Franco, returned $7.20 and $4.40 and finished a length in front of favored Sy Dog, who paid $3 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Smokin’ T finished fourth and was followed in order by Portfolio Company, Red Run, Red Danger, Coinage, Main Event and Dowagiac Chief.

“He had no excuses today, unlike last year in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf) and at Keeneland (in the Bourbon)," Maker said. "We got away well, Flavien (Prat) put him in a good position and just felt if we were good enough, there would be no excuses.”

Knicks Go Overnight Stakes

Three Technique surged from far back to win the inaugural running of the $160,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up by a length over Injunction at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.

Owned by David Miller, trained by Jason Cook and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Three Technique completed the mile on a fast track in 1:35.48.

Gun It shot to the front and led the field of 11 through fractions of :22.72 and :45.74 as Three Technique raced near the back of the pack.

Going into the far turn, Dream Shake and Injunction put the pressure on Gun It as Bejarano moved to the outside to begin a five-wide move toward the leaders. Getting clear at the head of the lane, Three Technique continued his surge to drive past Dream Shake at the sixteenth pole and on to victory.

Three Technique is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Mr Speaker out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Nite in Rome. He earned $94,366 for Saturday’s victory to hike his bankroll to $475,411 with a record of 23: 4-5-5.

Three Technique returned $75.60, $35.20 and $14.80. Injunction, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $7 and $5.20 with South Bend finishing a nose back in third under Joel Rosario and paying $5.20 to show.

“The horse had a good trip," Bejarano said. "I finally got him in the clear this time. The horse was ready today and I was very happy for him and the owners.”

Cook said, “I wanted my daughter (Payton) to make it to the Derby. This is her first Derby. I swear I thought this horse would win the whole time. He was just doing so good.”

Necker Island finished fourth and was followed in order by Dream Shake, Shared Sense, Gun It, A C Expressway, Endorsed, Perfect Speighty and Frosted Grace.

Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

Peter Brant’s Speak of the Devil made her U.S. debut a successful one by blowing past stablemate In Italian at the top of the stretch and draw off by 2 3/4 lengths to win the 37th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile for fillies and mares to kick off the stakes action on Kentucky Derby day.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Speak of the Devil completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:37.47. Brown and Prat teamed up to win the 2021 renewal of this race with Blowout and Brown also won in 2017 with Roca Rojo.

Speak of the Devil is a 5-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett out of the Indian Rocket mare Moranda. Now 15: 6-3-2 for her career, Speak of the Devil added $306,900 to her bankroll that swelled to $604,576 with Saturday’s victory.

In Italian, also owned by Brant, raced out to an uncontested lead and led the field of six through fractions of 24.86 and 49.70 seconds as Speak of the Devil raced at the rear of the pack.

Nearing the far turn, Prat moved Speak of the Devil off the rail and launched a five-wide move that carried her to even terms with In Italian at the top of the stretch from where she spurted clear.

Speak of the Devil returned $4.20, $3 and $2.20. In Italian, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $3 and $2.20 and finished 3 lengths in front of Wakanaka, who finished third under Jose Ortiz and paid $2.80 to show.

Lady Speightspeare finished fourth and was followed in order by Flower Point and Abscond.