Fresh off a layoff, Juddmonte Farms' homebred Bonny South kicked off her 2021 season April 16 with a gutsy win in the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
The 4-year-old daughter of Munnings earned her graded stripes last year by winning the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) by 2 1/4 lengths. She then rolled through the summer with three consecutive second-place finishes in graded stakes, including the Alabama Stakes (G1) where she finished behind eventual Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver.
With freshening and maturity, she returned to winning form.
"I thought she would run big," said trainer Brad Cox. "She had a nice series of works over the last several weeks at the Fair Grounds and Churchill. We shipped her over yesterday, and she schooled well, so we thought we would get a big effort. Florent (Geroux) did a good job realizing there wasn't a lot of pace, so she was closer than she was last year in her races, and it worked out well. She fought off a really good filly in the last sixteenth of a mile and battled back in order to get her head in front."
Ridden by Geroux, Bonny South sat in fourth behind pacesetter Graceful Princess, the 5-year-old daughter by Tapit out of Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, who is a homebred for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Graceful Princess led the field for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race in fractions of :24.11, :48.02, and 1:12.06. The leader was stalked early by 3-2 favorite Speech, who won last year's Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in track record time.
Around the far turn, Bonny South made her move and was soon a half length in back of Graceful Princess. At mid stretch the race became a three-way battle between Graceful Princess, Bonny South, and William S. Farish homebred Royal Flag, who had swung into the center of the track full of run. Bonny South held off her stubborn challengers to prevail by a head with Royal Flag another head in front of Graceful Princess.
The final time was 1:43.46.
Bonny South paid $9.40, $4.20, and $3.20. Royal Flag paid $3.60 and $2.80, while Graceful Princess paid $4.40.
Though engaged early, Speech faded from contention in the far turn just as Bonny South was making her move. The 4-year-old daughter of Mr Speaker owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, and Heider Family Stables jogged off the track and did not show any obvious reasons for stopping.
Trainer Michael McCarthy said Speech came back to the barn in good order but had a "less than satisfactory endoscopic examination."
Endoscope exams show to what degree a horse may have experienced exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging, which can affect performance.
"Unfortunate," said McCarthy, who declined to elaborate on the results of the endoscopic exam. "Upset for her owners and our team here at the barn who give their best every day."
Up until this year, horses were routinely treated with furosemide (known more commonly as Lasix) on race day as a preventative for EIPH. As part of efforts to eliminate race-day medication and move the United States in line with the policies of other international racing jurisdictions, a coalition of leading Thoroughbred racing associations agreed to eliminate race-day Lasix in 2-year-olds last year and in stakes races beginning this year. The coalition racetracks that have signed on to this initiative include all tracks owned or operated by Churchill Downs Inc., the New York Racing Association, and The Stronach Group as well as Del Mar, Keeneland, Lone Star Park, Remington Park, Los Alamitos Racecourse (Thoroughbred meets), Oaklawn Park, and Tampa Bay Downs.
As for Bonny South, Cox said this year's plan is to make her a grade 1 winner.
"The Juddmonte Spinster would be a nice one to win. It would be one for the home team," he said. "The ultimate goal is the (Longines) Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Distance won't be a problem for her. We're just very proud of her today."
The outcome of the Doubledogdare fit appropriately with April 15 being declared "Tapit Day" by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton. The proclamation was made because Gainesway's three-time leading North American stallion is the sire of the expected Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) favorite Essential Quality , but Tapit is also the sire of Graceful Princess and is the broodmare sire of Bonny South.
