Churchill Downs Regret Stakes 2011 - Bizzy Caroline wins, Kenny McPeek’s fifth victory at track
The Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs is an annual 9 furlong long race for three year old fillies that run for a purse of $200,000. The 42nd Regret Stakes took place this year on 18th June 2011.
The race was last run by a field of eight Bluegrass Cat’s daughter, Kathmanblu, Flower Alley’s daughter Bouquet Booth, Giant´s Causeway’s daughter Excited, Tapit’s daughter, Diva Ash, and, Bizzy Caroline.
Bouquet Booth ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan was the early pace-setter of the race. But she faced some challenges from Excited under Javier Castellano, and, while the two were trying to overcome each other, Bizzy Caroline, grabbed the opportunity and took the
lead.
Ken McPeek’s filly, Bizzy Caroline, went on to win in a time of 1 minute 49.73 seconds beating the more prominent 9/5 favourite Kathmanblu despite her staying mid-field for a major portion of the race. She won by 2 1/4 lengths.
The race was a big one for trainer, Kenny McPeek, too as he won his fifth consecutive stakes at Churchill Down. McPeek said:
“It's very exciting to win five stakes in a row. I can't remember ever being on a streak like this, but I don't think about it too much. We just try and take it one race at a time… She really needed to mature. She was a filly that looked like she was going
to go in the right direction, she just needed some time”.
Bizzy Caroline was ridden by jockey Manoel Cruz, who said that Mc Peek, offered him no particular advice on Bizzy Caroline. He further said:
“I rode her with a lot of confidence and let her tell me where she wanted to be in the race. (McPeek) has a lot of faith in me. He just said go do my job”.
Cruz, who shifted to Churchill Downs this spring, got his third stakes victory at this race.
McPeek’s other horse in the race, Kathmanblu, finished a disappointing fourth. Despite the high expectations, Kathmanblu, never strived to win, staying in the middle for the most part. Regarding this McPeek said that Kathmanblu had been running very hard
and now just needed a rest.
Bizzy Caroline, owned by Catesby W. Clay of Runnymeade Farm is the 2008 daughter of Afleet Alex. She has won three of her total six career starts, giving her a total earning of $148,497.This is Bizzy Caroline’s first 9 furlong victory.
Despite have a turbulent season when she was two, this year looks like Bizzy Caroline’s year. Future prospects for her include more races on the East Coast, most likely the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga on 27th July 2011.
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