Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: Twin Spires Turf Sprint

May 04, 2024 Gary Yunt

Clark Brewster, and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Cogburntook advantage of an outside post for clear running and went on to post a 2 ¼-length victory in the 30th running of the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sentient Jet (GII) for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Cogburn covered the 5 ½ furlongs on a turf course rated as “good” in 1:03.16. The victory was the third in the past four years in this race for Ortiz.

Cogburn took the lead out of the gate and sparred with Coppola and Mo Stash through an opening quarter-mile of :22.61 and a half-mile in :45.27.

At the top of the stretch, Cogburn opened up and never was threatened in the run to the wire.

Cogburn returned $18.78, $10.60 and $5.96. Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) rallied to get second under John Velazquez and returned $24.50 and $12.68 with favored Mischief Magic (IRE) finishing another three-quarters of a length back in third under Frankie Dettori and paying $4.04 to show.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Coppola, who was followed in order by Mo Stash, Eamonn, Motorious (GB), Front Run the Fed, Mister Mmmmm, Big Invasion, Bad Beat Brian, Axthelm, Arrest Me Red and Candy Man Rocket.

TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT QUOTES

Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey, Cogburn, winner) – “He was sharp, the trainer had him ready today. The way he broke, Steve (Asmussen) told me he was ready. Today he was running so good, there was no stopping him.”

Steve Asmussen (trainer, Cogburn, winner) – “He has (found a home on turf). Obviously, his turf races are beyond excellent and we’re very fortunate to have him. That is typical of him (to break that well). I was so concerned about the outside draw and he took care of that in one jump. We thought he was doing extremely well coming into the race, this was a very big race coming off the layoff. We were concerned when he drew the 14 hole, that’s a lot to overcome. But his break cleared that problem. That’s what he’s capable of and that’s what we’ll be getting to campaign the rest of the year.”

John Velazquez (jockey, Filo Di Arianna-BRZ, second) – “The winner was getting away from us at the three-sixteenths pole. My horse was running hard and finished well but we couldn’t catch the winner.”

Frankie Dettori (jockey, Mischief Magic-IRE, third) – “He ran good. He took himself out (of the early running) in the first part of the race, I followed the gaps but the first two got away from me.”