Mr Dumas Down Ritzy A.P. in Thursday Feature

May 21, 2020

Mr Dumas collared pacesetter Ritzy A.P. with a furlong to run and drew away in the final stages to win Thursday’s $84,595 feature race at Churchill Downs by a half-length. Casa Creed and 6-5 favorite Front Run the Fed, finished third and fourth, respectively, in the field of 10 older horses.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Martin Garcia, 4-year-old Mr Dumas raced in the clear just behind pacesetter Ritzy A.P., who dictated a leisurely early pace of :24.69, :49.19 and 1:13.46 with Casa Creed and Front Run the Fed just a couple of lengths behind. Mr Dumas, the winner of the $175,000 Commonwealth Turf (GIII) at Churchill Downs last November, improved to a perfect 3-for-3 over the Matt Winn Turf Course when he ran past the leader in deep stretch and covered one mile on firm turf in 1:37.09.

“It looked like he wanted to run around there again,” Maker said. “He certainly loves this turf course.”

Added Garcia: “He was pretty keen but we got into a good spot and he did it easily.”

Mr Dumas, owned by Mark Moore’s Hooties Racing LLC and William Simon’s WSS Racing, returned $8.80 to win as the 3-1 second betting choice and banked $48,868 while improving his overall record to $262,879 from a 4-0-3 ledger in 10 starts.

Betting at Churchill Downs on Thursday totaled $8,169,121.

Racing at Churchill Downs will continue Friday at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with a 10-race program highlighted by a third-level allowance worth $85,000. Saratoga allowance winner Malakeh (GB) is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the overflow field of 10 fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

Additionally, a dozen 2-year-olds will sprint 4 ½ furlongs in the first race of the day, led by early 3-1 favorite Spicy Marg, a Wesley Ward-trained filly by Into Mischief who will tackle males in her career bow.

There is a $79,288 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot on Races 5-10, and a $24,103 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5 for the final race of the day.

Racing from Churchill Downs on Friday will be televised on FS2 (12:30-2:20 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m.), MSG+ (1-5:30 p.m.), FOX Sports Ohio (3-6 p.m.) and FOX Sports South (3-6 p.m.) as part of FOX Sports’ “America’s Day at the Races” coverage.