Churchill Downs Recap: Shedaresthedevil Cruises to Victory in Friday Feature

Jun 05, 2020 Churchill Downs Communications

Shedaresthedevil, winner of the Grade III Honeybee at Oaklawn Park in March, broke alertly and led every step of the way in an authoritative six-length victory over Mizzen Beau in Friday’s $75,816 allowance feature at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Florent Geroux and trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.89. The victory, her third in eight career starts, sets her up for regional stakes race on the Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks for her next engagement, either the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (GIII) at Indiana Grand on July 8 or the $400,000 Ashland (GI) at Keeneland on July 11.

Breaking from post position No. 4, Shedaresthedevil rattled off quarter-mile fractions of :23.73, :47.13 and 1:10.85 with Mizzen Beau chasing one length behind. Leaving the far turn, Geroux dropped his hands and Shedaresthedevil proved to be utterly superior as she extended her lead down the stretch.

“She has tactical speed which is very important for any horse,” Geroux said. “Today I was able to get the lead but she has proven in the past that she does well sitting off the pace. She did everything very easy today and showed that she’s a talented 3-year-old filly who fits right with the rest of the (Kentucky) Oaks fillies.”

Sent to post as the 7-5 favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies, Shedaresthedevil paid $4.80 to win. The $47,720 first-place check jumped her career earnings to $385,368 for owners Qatar Racing Ltd., Flurry Racing Stables LLC and Big Aut Farms.

In her prior start, Shedaresthedevil, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Daredevil, finished third behind Swiss Skydiver and Venetian Harbor in the Grade III Fantasy at Oaklawn Park.

“This was a good steppingstone to getting her ready for the (Sept. 4) Kentucky Oaks,” Cox said. “She’s proved in the past that she’s talented and she’s already a graded stakes winner. We’ll definitely look at the (Road to Kentucky Oaks) schedule to point her to one of the local races this summer.”

Betting at Churchill Downs on Friday totaled $5,043,891.

Racing on Saturday will feature an 11-race card at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with two stakes events: the $100,000 Dogwood presented by Woodford Reserve (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs and $100,000 Aristides presented by Woodford Reserve (Listed) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Saturday’s card will include a $175,666 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot on a Races 6-11 and a $5,335 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5 on the last race of the day. Also, two races from Churchill Downs (Races 9-10) are partnered with three races from Belmont Park (Races 7-9) to create a 50-cent Cross Country Pick 5 with a low 15-percent takeout.

Racing from Churchill Downs on Saturday will air on FS2 from 2:30-3 p.m. and FS1 from 3-8 p.m. as part of FOX Sports’ “America’s Day at the Races” coverage. It also will be broadcast on MSG+ from 1-7 p.m. and FOX Sports Ohio from 3-7 p.m.