Distorted Love Draws Away in Thursday Feature

May 26, 2011 Darren Rogers

Arianne de Kwiatkowski’s Distorted Love rallied from last to draw even with favorite Bizzee Mizzee at the head of the stretch and kicked clear of that rival in the final 300 yards en route to a 5 ½-length victory in Thursday’s $50,825 feature at Churchill Downs.

            Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi and ridden by Miguel Mena, Distored Love clocked one-mile in 1:36.66. The field was reduced to four runners when the race, originally scheduled for the Matt Winn Turf Course, was transferred to the “sloppy” main track due to overnight and midday rainfall.

Distorted Love was sent to post as the 6-5 second choice and paid $4.60 and $2.20. There was no show wagering. Bizzee Mizzee, with Julien Leparoux in the saddle, paid $2.20. Champagne Jane, ridden by Marcelino Pedroza Jr., was another four lengths back in third. Simply Seattle, with Cory Orm aboard, faded to last after setting the early pace. Gaya, Exclusive Love, Sally Sally and Holidaysatthefarm were scratched.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor, Distorted Love banked $32,100 for the win and improved her record to 3-3-2 and $142,956 in 20 starts.

Racing continues Friday with an 11-race twilight program that kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET. There’s a five-day Pick 6 carryover of $39,187 on Races 6-11 that requires bettors to pick the winners of six consecutive races.

After Friday’s final race, there will be a post-race concert by indie-rockers Dawn Landes and the Hounds – the third of five shows in Churchill Downs’ new Paddock Concert Series on Fridays. The music of Eight Inch Elvis will entertain paddock patrons between races from 5-8 p.m. Also, there will be $2 Budweiser products, frozen specialty drinks and hot dogs from 6-8:15 p.m. for Friday Happy Hours presented by Budweiser Select. General admission will be $3 until 7 p.m. and $10 thereafter.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 138^th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2012. The track’s 2011 Spring Meet opened April 30 and continues through July 4. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record seven times and the event will return to the track for its next renewal on Nov. 4-5, 2011. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

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