Liora upsets Restless Rider in Golden Rod’s photo finish

Odds-on favorite and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Restless Rider appeared poised to go by in the stretch of Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. But her chief rival never quite gave in.

Wayne Catalano-trained Liora set the pace over the muddy going and eked out a 27-1 victory by way of a photo finish over Restless Rider, who entered with a distinct class edge in the 2019 Kentucky Oaks prep race.

Coffeepot Stables’ Liora broke her maiden last out over the track on Oct. 28. That was at third asking, though her $175,000 price tag as a yearling promised potential.

"We thought this filly had a lot of talent," Catalano said. "We took her to Saratoga and it just didn't work out. We planned on running on the grass and take the same road as we did with Farrell," the Catalano-trained winner of the 2016 Golden Rod who went on to the Oaks the next spring.

Liora, a daughter of Candy Ride, broke on top, setting fractions of 24.81, 49.68 and 1:14.70 under jockey Channing Hill. At that point, Restless Rider pulled even — and may have put a nose in front — before Liora battled back to win by a nose under the Twin Spires.

High Regard ran third in the field of eight.

"I couldn't believe nobody really went," Hill said. "...This filly's really nice. Obviously she was really tested from the sixteenth pole, and she kept battling back nice. You can see the way she galloped out -- she galloped out great -- hopefully the distance isn't a limitation."

The victory going 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.25 earned Liora 10 qualifying points toward the Oaks.