Spirit of St Louis Victorious in Thrilling Turf Classic
A frantic stretch run took place in the $1 million Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs May 3 as nearly every member of the 10-horse field had a shot, but in the final sixteenth, it was Spirit of St Louis who emerged the best for jockey Manny Franco.
Spirit of St Louis completed the 1 1/8 miles on a good turf course in 1:48.20, paying $8.24 to win. Mercante finished second and Highway Robber was third.
Winner of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park in January, the Turf Classic was a second grade 1 victory for the 6-year-old bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman.
Owners Madaket Stables and Michael Dubb picked up their second grade 1 win of the day, having won the American Turf Stakes (G1T) with Zulu Kingdom . They were joined in ownership this time by Richard Schermerhorn.
The victory gave trainer Chad Brown a record-extending fifth win in the Turf Classic.
Spirit of St Louis picked up a third grade 1 win this season for stallion Medaglia d’Oro , who is also the sire of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer .
This story will be updated.
