Fancy Liquor rallies for victory in American Turf

Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable’s Fancy Liquor rallied from far off a fast pace and then held off Taishan by a half-length to win the 29th running of the $500,000, Grade 2 American Turf for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs, the first stakes race on Kentucky Derby Day.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Florent Geroux, Fancy Liquor covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:42.83.

“I wasn’t expecting what we got, but it worked out,” Maker said. “So I’m very pleased. Field Pass is a stakes winner over this course and didn’t quite run his race at Saratoga. Tyler [Gaffalione] didn’t feel like he handled the softer going today but still ran a good race. Flo said he was loaded, on the gallop out and everything.”

American Butterfly, Sugoi and Smooth Like Strait engaged in a duel through fractions of :23.04 and :46.48 with Fancy Liquor racing in fifth. On the far turn, Smooth Like Strait assumed the lead with Field Pass quickly taking up the chase and drawing even at the head of the stretch.

Those two dueled on even terms until the sixteenth pole when Fancy Liquor moved past the leaders on the outside and had enough to fend off Taishan.

The victory was worth $303,800 and improved Fancy Liquor’s earnings to $465,050 with a record of 6-3-1-2. It is the first graded stakes victory for Fancy Liquor, a Kentucky-bred son of Lookin At Lucky out of the Secret Romeo mare Brandys Secret.

Fancy Liquor returned $11.60, $5.20 and $3. Taishan, ridden by Julien Leparoux, paid $10.20 and $5.20 with Field Pass finishing another 1 ¼ lengths back in third and paying $2.60 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to favored Smooth Like Strait with King Theo, Sugoi and American Butterfly following in order.