Churchill Downs Closing Day Stakes Recaps: Bashford Manor, Debutante and Kelly's Landing

Jun 29, 2019 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

Southern California invader Phantom Boss inched clear in the final eighth of a mile to win Saturday’s 118^th running of the $125,000 Bashford Manor (Grade III) on closing day at Churchill Downs’ 38-day Spring Meet to beat Rowdy Yates by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Phantom Boss ran six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10.78 for trainer Jorge Periban and owners Bada Beng Racing, Tom Beckerle, Terry Lovingier and Amanda Navarro.

Phantom Boss broke alertly from post position No. 1 but he settled nicely behind early leaders Verb and Rowdy Yates. Before the pacesetters hit the first quarter-mile marker in :21.84, Phantom Boss switched to an outside tracking position in third with Snell Yeah just to his inside. Leaving the turn in :45.51, Phantom Boss made a four-wide move to draw even with the bunch. He inched away with a furlong to run and proved to be best.

Phantom Boss’ triumph was worth $75,950 and increased his bankroll to $131,850 with a record of two wins and a second in three starts. Previously, he broke his maiden at Santa Anita with an easy 2 ½-length score in a California-bred maiden special weight.

Phantom Boss is a 2-year-old son of 2011 Preakness (GI) and 2012 Clark Handicap (GI) winner Shackleford out of the Street Boss mare Bossy Belle. He was bred in California by Lovingier.

Phantom Boss returned $5, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 3-2 favorite. The Steve Asmussen-trained Rowdy Yates, second under Ricardo Santana Jr. as the 8-5 second choice, paid $3.20 and $2.60 and finished two lengths in front of Verb who paid $3.20 to show under James Graham at 5-1.

Silent Malice, Snell Yeah and Rookie Salsa completed the order of finish. Alec and Arthur missed the start and was distanced. Jamming Cameron and Finnick the Fierce were scratched.

First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.

The Bashford Manor was the last of three stakes races on Saturday’s closing day card at Churchill Downs.

Earlier, heavily-favored Magic Dance collared California invader Cholula Lips with a furlong to run and won the 119^th running of the $125,000 Debutante (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies by 1 ½ lengths. She clocked six furlongs in 1:10.26. Ricardo Santana Jr. rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Goncalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm LLC.

In the 10^th running of the $120,600 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes, recent $62,500 claim Line Judge returned immediate dividends to owner Tom Kagele and trainer Peter Miller with a 3 ¼-length romp over Transatlantic Kiss by running seven furlongs in a stakes record 1:21.35 under leading rider Corey Lanerie.

Lanerie was the Spring Meet’s leading rider for the 17^th time with 43 wins, 14 more than runner-up Miguel Mena. Steve Asmussen collected his record-extending 21^st crown as Churchill Downs’ champion trainer with 28 victories, 10 more than Eddie Kenneally. There was a three-way tie for leading owner between Calumet Farm (10^th local title), Maggi Moss (sixth local title) and the track’s all-time win leaders Ken and Sarah Ramsey (record-extending 32^nd local title) with six wins apiece.

Racing in Kentucky will shift to Ellis Park on Sunday. Action at Churchill Downs will return Friday, Sept. 13 for the seventh annual 11-date September Meeting, which will continue through Sept. 29.

BASHFORD MANOR QUOTES

Rafael Bejarano, jockey of PHANTOM BOSS (winner): “I always believed in this horse since I started working him as a baby. He has always been so intelligent ever since I got on him. He debuted for maiden special weight in open company and ran an awesome race. The one thing that has been so special about this horse is not only has he been improving in his performances on the track but he’s been improving mentally. Today, breaking on the rail, I knew there would be some speed to my outside. We were able to sit a great trip just behind them and get around them at the top of the lane.”

Jorge Periban, trainer of PHANTOM BOSS (winner): “I told my wife this is the best place in the world to be. It is such a beautiful track and I hope to be back here in the spring. When we debuted this horse in open company and he only got beat a nose I knew we had something special. I told the owners that he could have a very bright future. Today’s performance was unbelievable. I love Kentucky and can’t wait to come back.”

Ricardo Santana Jr., trainer of ROWDY YATES (runner-up): “He ran a good effort and just got beat late. He’s going to be a very nice horse down the road.

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HEAVY FAVORITE MAGIC DANCE WINS TO GIVE ASMUSSEN FIFTH DEBUTANTE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 29, 2019) – Heavily-favored Magic Dance collared California invader Cholula Lips with a furlong to run and won Saturday’s 119^th running of the $125,000 Debutante (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths on closing day of the 38-day Spring Meet.

Off at odds of 1-5 in the field of eight, Magic Dance clocked six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.26. Ricardo Santana Jr. rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Goncalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm LLC.

The triumph was Asmussen’s fifth in the Debutante. Previously he won with Cashier’s Dream (2001), Effectual (2005), Richwoman (2006) and Rated Fiesty (2007). Three Chimneys Farm was a co-owner of last year’s Debutante winner Restless Rider.

Breaking from post No. 6, Magic Dance tracked three-wide from third as My Good Girl and Cholula Lips ran a quick first quarter mile in :21.51. Cholula Lips took the lead on the turn and opened up a 1 ½-length advantage from Magic Dance at the head of the stretch, but Magic Dance wore down her rival down the lane and cleared the field in the final stages.

The victory was worth $75,175 which increased the 2-year-old filly’s earnings to $114,175 with a perfect record in two starts. Prior to her Debutante triumph, Magic Dance broke her maiden at Churchill Downs on June 7 by 4 ¾ lengths at odds of 8-1.

Magic Dance paid $2.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Her Debutante win payoff equaled the race’s low $2 win mutuel shared by Flyweight (1944), Silverbulletday (1998) and Chilukki (1999). Cholula Lips, at odds of 6-1 under Rafael Bejarano, returned $3.80 and $3.60. Lady Glamour, at 33-1 with James Graham up, was 2 ¼ lengths back of the runner-up and paid $8.

Indy Takes Charge, Secretly Wicked, My Good Girl, Megan Marie and Lady George completed the order of finish. Street Flyer was scratched.

Magic Dance is a 2-year-old daughter of More Than Ready out of the Distorted Humor mare Magical World. She was bred in Kentucky by her owners.

The Debutante, first staged in 1895 and one of Churchill Downs’ most storied races, was one the second of three stakes races on Saturday’s closing day card at Churchill Downs.

Earlier on the card in the 10^th running of the $120,600 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes, recent $62,500 claim Line Judge returned immediate dividends to owner Tom Kagele and trainer Peter Miller with a 3 ¼-length romp over Transatlantic Kiss. The 5-year-old son of Spring At Last ran seven furlongs in a stakes record 1:21.35 under leading rider Corey Lanerie. Line Judge banked $72,827 for the win and improved his record to 25-12-4-1—$479,238. He paid $26 to win at odds of 12-1. Favored Uncontested finished fourth.

DEBUTANTE QUOTES

Ricardo Santana Jr., jockey of MAGIC DANCE (winner): “She got herself into a perfect position early on in the race. She was ready to run today and fought back against (Cholula Lips) on our inside. That was a very nice performance.”

Steve Asmussen, trainer of MAGIC DANCE (winner): “This is a very special win for us for Three Chimneys Farm and this horse was broke at my parent’s ranch in Laredo, Texas. She proved today that the three-quarter distance was no problem.”

Mike Harrington, trainer of CHOLULA LIPS (runner-up): “We just got outrun by a nice filly this afternoon. She ran a great race to run second to that horse and made the trip to Kentucky worth it.”

Rafael Bejarano, jockey of CHOLULA LIPS (runner-up): “I thought we were going to hold on for a minute. She ran a super race and fought back gamely in the stretch.”

KELLY’S LANDING QUOTES

Corey Lanerie, jockey of LINE JUDGE (winner): “My job today was easy. The instructions were just to sit behind the speed and make a run. We broke a little bad and I got a little worried at first but when I got him settled down, he just took off. He was very impressive today and ready to roll.”

Felipe Nickel, assistant trainer of LINE JUDGE (winner): “He’s been doing very well since we claimed him. It was a very good race for him to step up in competition.”

Greg Foley, trainer of TRANSATLANTIC KISS (runner-up) and CONTROL STAKE (seventh): “(Transatlantic Kiss) ran a really good race. He sat in a good spot around the turn and the winner was just the best in today’s race. We have a really nice horse.”