Utah Beach's powerful late rally got him first across the wire for his second consecutive graded stakes win in the May 17 Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.
A homebred for Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable, Utah Beach lined up under the lights for Churchill's $250,000 feature as the co-favorite at 3-1 with Rebel Red and Missed the Cut. The English Channel gelding ran second to last for a majority of the 1 1/2-mile journey as Idratherbeblessed led the way through early fractions of :24.81, :48.84, and 1:13.64. Frankie Dettori and Verstappen, fifth behind Utah Beach in last month's Elkhorn Stakes (G2T), assumed command heading into the run for the far turn and opened up on the field at the top of the stretch.
Avoiding a mishap around the bend that resulted in both Rebel Red and Tapit Shoes losing their riders, Utah Beach with Vincent Cheminaud aboard launched his bid wide and clear from the back of the pack. Closing resolutely down the lane, he surged by Verstappen for a 1 1/2-length score in a final time of 2:26.70 for the 1 1/2 miles over a firm turf course.
Utah Beach returned $8.44 for a $2 win ticket.
Verstappen was second by three lengths over Missed the Cut in third. Last year's Louisville winner Sugoi checked in fourth.
Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Utah Beach posted his second win of the year and his fifth in 15 career starts for earnings of $687,785.
