Keeneland: Denim and Pearls runs off to Beaumont triumph

Denim and Pearls swept past even-money favorite and stablemate Youalmosthadme at the top of the stretch and drew off to a stakes-record 9 1/4-length victory in the 39th running of the Grade 2, $395,063 Beaumont Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday afternoon at Keeneland.

Before Sunday, Fandom won the listed Palisades for 3-year-olds.

Click here for Keeneland entries and results.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Denim and Pearls completed the Beard Course distance of about 7 1/4 furlongs in 1:26.54 over a fast main track.

It is the second stakes win of the weekend for Randy Gullat’s Red, White and Blue Racing. Neat provided the first victory for the stable in Friday’s Transylvania (G3).

The duo of Cox and Prat scored their third consecutive victory in the race following Key of Life last year and Matareya, who was an 8 1/2-length winner in 2022.

Vicountess led the field of six through opening fractions of 22.99 and 46.41 seconds while being tracked by Youalmosthadme with Denim and Pearls racing just behind the top two. On the turn Vicountess gave way, and Youalmosthadme took over, but the lead was short-lived.

Denim and Pearls blew past her stablemate at the top of the stretch and easily drew off.

Denim and Pearls is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence. In posting her first stakes victory, Denim and Pearls improved her record to 5: 3-2-0 and increased her earnings to $457,435 that includes Sunday’s check of $244,900.

Denim and Pearls returned $5.58, $3.42 and $2.40. Harbor Springs rallied to take second and return $6.82 and $3.18 under Irad Ortiz Jr. Youalmosthadme finished another three lengths back in third and paid $2.18 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Chi Chi with Tipsy Tammy and Vicountess following in that order.