R Disaster Goes Gate to Wire in Derby City Distaff

R Disaster took the lead in the May 2 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs and never looked back, defeating the favorites Splendora and Ways and Means. Under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, the 5-year-old daughter of Awesome Slew broke on top and set the pace with fractions of :22.77, :45.05, and 1:08.51. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee continued to lead down the backstretch under confident handling. When the field hit the stretch, she shook loose for a 2-length advantage. She held her lead and scored by 2 1/4 lengths on the wire. R Disaster ($16.26) completed the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in a final time of 1:20.94, just a half-second off the track record set by Groupie Doll in the 2012 running of this race. "This filly came here ready to run today," Gaffalione said. "As soon as the gate popped open, she broke alertly, I was able to put my hands down and let her find her stride. She was traveling so easy that I knew (down the stretch), she was going to be able to find another gear. The rest of the horses weren't much of a threat." The Chad Brown-trained Ways and Means finished second off an 11-month layoff after developing an illness last summer. She gave chase in the stretch, but couldn't catch the leader. Usha, one of two Bob Baffert trainees, finished third. His other runner, 2025 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Splendora, sat a stalking trip, but faded to finish fourth as the post-time favorite. The daughter of Audible experienced the first loss of her 5-year-old campaign after going back-to-back at Santa Anita Park in the D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2) and the B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes (G1). Owned by Averill Racing and ATM Racing, R Disaster landed her first grade 1 victory. Last out, she was third in the Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland after winning her first start of the year in the Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The remarkably consistent mare has finished first or second in 15 of her 16 career starts, and has earnings of $1,327,015. "She ran her race last time in the Madison," Joseph said. "The pace was extremely fast last time, faster than we would have liked. We didn't originally intend to come back in this race, but she bounced out of her last work very well. So, we decided to enter and see what happens. We knew there were some grade 1-caliber fillies in this race but she was doing so well. Tyler gave her the perfect ride today. I'm proud of her because she's an overachiever. She's so consistent. She's never run worse than third in her life—very honest horse. "Now she's passed the test. So we were definitely considering trying to get her to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. I mean, this is the pinnacle, winning today. Here she is on the biggest day. I'm proud."