Fight On wins Spendthrift Stallion Stakes for owner Spendthrift Farm

It was Fight On who prevailed Sunday from a blanket finish in the second running of the $200,000 Spendthrift Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs -- and in doing so, the 2-year-old Into Mischief colt brought home a win for the race’s namesake, Spendthrift Farm.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Fight On sat off the pace of the favorite, Ezmosh. The lead was given up turning for home, and Fight On emerged as the new front runner. Santana Jr. and Fight On held off challenges from Captivating Moon, Dream Baby Dream, and O’Malley’s March. The leading margin shortened as the four horses crossed the wire in that same order, with Fight On winning the photo finish.

Fight On completed the seven furlongs in 1:24.87. B. Wayne Hughes, owner of Spendthrift Farm, was there to share in the excitement of his farm’s race.

“We’re surprised we won the race, but we have such a good trainer and good jockey,” Hughes said. “The concept is basically for the breeders and for the people who buy our horses. We’re very happy to sponsor it.”

The Spendthrift Stallion Stakes is for 2-year-olds sired by a stallion standing at Spendthrift Farm the year they were bred.

In its counterpart, the first running of the $200,000 Spendthrift Juvenile Filly Stallion Stakes, Sultry took advantage of an open rail and ran down heavy favorite Mia Mischief. A daughter of Malibu Moon, Sultry picked up her first stakes win for owner Joseph Sutton.

Mia Mischief went straight to the lead while Sultry, trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Corey Lanerie, settled farther back. The leader looked like the winner turning for home with no challengers, but the rail opened up, allowing Sultry to save ground and gun it.

Mia Mischief and Sultry left everyone far behind battling to the finish line. In the end, Sultry had more left in the tank while the favorite drifted out and stayed on for second. The time was 1:24.51. Aerial Assets and Breaking Beauty picked up third and fourth.

“I got really lucky around the turn and was able to find a seam along the rail, and I think it made all the difference,” Lanerie said. “The fractions you notice up front. We might have had a little help. They might have come back (to us). But my filly did a great job, and she was ready to run today.”

Kenneally added, “I think down the road she will stretch out, but right now she's very good at being a come-from-behind sprinter.

“We got a good trip. Sometimes you've got to get that with a closer, and fortunately Corey made all the right moves today and it worked out. You've got to give him a lot of credit for that.”

By Christine Oser