Sconsin upsets Frank's Rockette in Winning Colors
The 18th running of Saturday night’s $150,000, Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs went according to plan for Sconsin as she displayed her powerful closing kick to rush past early pacemakers Rising Seas and 3-5 favorite Frank’s Rockette in the final furlong to win the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:08.80.
Tyler Gaffalione rode the Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC homebred for trainer Greg Foley.
Breaking from the rail in the field of five, Rising Seas went straight to the front with Frank’s Rockette rushing to join after hesitating at the start. Tipsy Gal also was in close pursuit, with Sconsin comfortably tracking the leading trio after quarter-mile fractions of :21.72 and :44.55. Sconsin was tipped to the outside after leaving the turn, rallied and flew past those foes at the furlong pole to draw off for the victory.
“Everything set up like we thought it would,” Gaffalione said. “The speed went on and set quick fractions. We were able to sit back and bide our time. When I put her out at the top of the lane she finished the job.”
Three weeks ago, Sconsin finished a game second to champion female sprinter Gamine in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day.
“She’s a good filly,” Foley said. “She came out of the (Derby City Distaff) really good. I knew she was going to run well.”
The victory was worth $93,000, which pushed the 4-year-old filly’s career earnings to $546,512 from a record of 4-3-1 in 12 starts. Last September, Sconsin defeated favorite Four Graces to upset the $300,000 Eight Belles (G3) on Kentucky Oaks Day.
“We gave her some time this winter just to back off of her and have her ready for the spring,” Foley said. “That was the game plan and everything has gone great so far. She ran a big race to Gamine (in the Derby City Distaff) on Derby Day and made her run, anyway. She loves Churchill (5: 3-1-0) and that’s why I wanted to run her here tonight.”
Sent to post as the even-money second betting choice, Sconsin paid $4.20, $3.20 and $2.10. Rising Seas, at odds of 14-1 under Corey Lanerie, returned $6.80 and $2.60. Frank’s Rockette, another half-length back of the runner-up under Florent Geroux, paid $2.10 to show.
It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to slow-starting Headland in fourth and a neck back to Tipsy Gal in fifth. Bayerness was scratched.
“Lloyd Madison Farms, a group of three guys from Madison, Wisc., they’re my main guys, my big owners,” Foley said. “They’ve been with me a long time and I’m tickled to death to have a filly like this. We bred and raised this filly. I raced her mama.”
Sconsin is a daughter of Include out of the Tiznow mare Sconnie and was bred in Kentucky.
Next up for Sconsin could be a start in the $110,000 Roxelana Overnight Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs on June 19.
“After that, depending how well she runs, maybe jump up to the (Grade 1, $500,000) Ballerina (Handicap over seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 28). I’d like to win a Grade 1 with her.”
The Winning Colors is named in honor of Eugene Klein’s Winning Colors, the most recent filly to have won the Kentucky Derby when she beat the boys in 1988 for the Hall of Fame tandem of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens.
Racing at Churchill Downs resumes Sunday with a 10-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. EDT.