Kehoe Beach, a potential star on the rise from the Wesley Ward barn, faces a seasoned group of 3-year-old fillies in the Nov. 29 $300,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
Racing for the colors of Thomas Bachman, Kehoe Beach has been nothing short of spectacular in her past two starts. Her dazzling escapades began in September, when the daughter of Omaha Beach lowered the course mark for seven furlongs (1:20.46) at Kentucky Downs in a gate-to-wire romp against allowance company. After failing to draw into Keeneland's Valley View Stakes (G2T), Ward put the improving filly in against older rivals in a one-mile turf allowance on the same card and she delivered once again in front-running fashion, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:34.24.
Later on that same card, Frankie Dettori, who rode Kehoe Beach, guided the Rusty Arnold-trained Poolside With Slim to her second stakes victory in the Valley View. Dettori opted to ride Kehoe Beach over the more experienced Poolside With Slim in the 1 1/16-mile Mrs. Revere.
Kehoe Beach, who will break from post 2, has recorded two consecutive bullet works since her latest win. She took a swing around the newly refurbished Churchill turf course in her Nov. 12 breeze, clocking five furlongs in 1:00.20. Kehoe Beach also was entered in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 1 at Del Mar.
Pharoah's Wine, caught late by Poolside With Slim in the Valley View after leading for most of the way, will likely contend with Kehoe Beach for pacesetting honors. The American Pharoah filly tallied her best Equibase Speed Figure yet—a 99—with her Valley View placing. The Dale Romans trainee ran a mile in 1:33.96 three starts back when capturing an Ellis Park allowance.
The biggest challenge to Kehoe Beach should come from Poolside With Slim. Purchased at the Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling, the daughter of Churchill has been highly touted by her connections since breaking her maiden last winter at Gulfstream Park. Although it took her a few tries to land black type, she did so with a gritty score in the Penn Oaks and later gained graded distinction with her Valley View win.
In the Valley View, Arnold was quick to praise the filly's professionalism in covering up behind horses, which boded well for her swift late kick.
Owned by Glenn Bromagen, Sandra Bromagen, and Patrick Lewis, John Velazquez has the call on Poolside With Slim from the outside 12 hole.
There are other stakes performers in the field, but many lack the form they showed earlier in the season. Rigney Racing's Buchu, a graded stakes winner at 2 and 3, hasn't had her photo taken in her last five outings for trainer Phil Bauer. Fellow Mrs. Revere contenders Pin Up Betty and Pounce, both graded stakes winners through the first seven months of the year, also seem off their top game as 2024 winds down.
Churchill Downs, Friday, November 29, 2024, Race 10Entries: Mrs. Revere S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Dancing N Dixie (FL) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 118 Mark E. Casse 20/1 2 2Buchu (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 Philip A. Bauer 5/1 3 3Kehoe Beach (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 118 Wesley A. Ward 3/1 4 4Pharoah's Wine (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 118 Dale L. Romans 30/1 5 5Chilled (KY) Luan Machado 118 Victoria H. Oliver 30/1 6 6Pin Up Betty (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Michael J. Maker 5/1 7 7Minoushka (GB) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Brendan P. Walsh 9/2 8 8Neon Icon (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 118 George R. Arnold II 30/1 9 9Pounce (KY) Florent Geroux 118 Mark E. Casse 20/1 10 10Simply in Front (KY) Luis Saez 118 Eddie Kenneally 15/1 11 11Maxisuperfly (KY) Abel Cedillo 118 Eric N. Foster 30/1 12 12Poolside With Slim (IRE) John R. Velazquez 120 George R. Arnold II 6/1 13 13Adrasteia (KY) Albin Jimenez 118 Fergus Bogle 30/1 14 14Breezing Along (KY) Evin A. Roman 118 Anna M. Meah 30/1 15 15Sanctify (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Hutch Holsapple 30/1
