LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Einstein edged Cowboy Cal by a head at the end of a thrilling stretch battle to win the $557,600 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, giving jockey Julien Leparoux three stakes wins Saturday on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.
Einstein earned his fourth Grade 1 victory over the last two years. This was one of the most dramatic. Einstein and Cowboy Cal edged away from the pack in deep stretch with the outcome in doubt until the final strides.
Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, the 7-year-old ran the 1 1-8 miles over a good course in 1:49.62. He has been successful on all surfaces, having won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on a synthetic track in March. Einstein also won the Turf Classic last year. He paid $5.60 to win, becoming the first horse to score a repeat win in the stakes.
“I was worried about the soft turf,” Pitts-Blasi said. “He doesn’t care what he runs on. He will always give you his best.”
Einstein has won 11-of-25, pushing his career earnings over $2.6 million.
Informed Decision charged through the stretch to capture the $335,400 Humana Distaff for her fourth straight stakes victory. Although her last two wins came on the artificial surface at Keeneland, Informed Decision made a smooth transition back to real dirt. Trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Leparoux, the 4-year-old ran the seven furlongs on the sloppy track in 1:23.69.
Informed Decision beat Temple Street by three quarters of a length, improving her lifetime record to 7-for-9, paying $8.40 to win.
Accredit rolled to a pacesetting win in the $280,500 Churchill Downs Stakes, beating My Pal Charlie by 1¾ lengths. Leparoux was aboard for trainer Michael Maker as the 4-year-old earned his sixth victory in 16 starts. He paid $10.60 to win, running the seven furlongs in 1:23.24.
Four Gifts won the $113,300 Eight Belles Stakes, the race renamed for the champion filly who suffered a fatal breakdown moments after finishing second in last year’s Derby. The race for 3-year-old fillies had previously been known as the La Troienne.
Just Jenda, trained by Larry Jones who had Eight Belles, made a bold bid to deliver a sentimental victory. She took charge turning for home but drifted in the slop. Four Gifts, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, charged past for a three-length victory.
Four Gifts gave trainer Steve Asmussen his second win in the stakes. She ran the 7½ furlongs in 1:30.94, paying $9.60 to win.
Tizaqueena held off Dawn After Dawn by three quarters of length to take the $238,600 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile. The 4-year-old posted her fourth straight win, paying $19.80 to win. Jamie Theriot rode for trainer Michael Stidham as Tizaqueena was clocked in 1:38.86.
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