LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was somewhere on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean nearing the end of a brief vacation when Enticed – his 2018 Kentucky Derby hopeful bred and owned by Godolphin – nosed out Tiz Mischief in a thrilling renewal of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs. “Maybe he’ll want to take another lap after this,” joked Jimmy Bell, president of the American division of Godolphin. Under the Churchill lights, an eventful 91st running of the Grade 2, $200,000 KJC boiled down to a ferocious duel between Enticed and Tiz Mischief. Into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, Diamond King clipped heels and threw jockey Frankie Pennington, but fortunately Pennington escaped with relatively minor injuries and no other horses or jockeys went down. Midway down the backstretch and into the far turn, Enticed and jockey Junior Alvarado settled in behind several rivals intent on the lead, most notably Promises Fulfilled, while Tiz Mischief raced a few lengths farther back under Robby Albarado. :: Save on PPs, digital subscriptions, and more with DRF's Black Friday sale! Down the stretch, as Enticed swung wide and Tiz Mischief cut the corner, they both overtook Promises Fulfilled, with Enticed getting the best of a head-bob when finishing in 1:44.42 over a fast track. Enticed, a dark bay colt by Medaglia d’Oro, returned $8.80 as the slight favorite in a full field of 14. Promises Fulfilled was another 2 1/2 lengths behind the top pair in third, with High North finishing fourth. “I didn’t want to fight him early,” said Alvarado. “He’s a big horse, still a baby. There’s still room for improvement there.” “It was a great effort, a great race,” said Bell. “Plus we get something to look forward to.” Enticed earned 10 eligibility points toward the Kentucky Derby next May. Earlier this week, McLaughlin said by text message while on the cruise: “Getting a race over the track is also nice to have next spring.” Godolphin and McLaughlin have a second Derby prospect in Avery Island, who is slated to run next Saturday in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. For trainer Dale Romans, the narrow defeat for Tiz Mischief was alternately difficult and encouraging. Romans also is the trainer of Promises Fulfilled. “That was a really tough beat,” said Romans, who has won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland four times but remains winless in the KJC at his home track. “But we’re pretty loaded with 2-year-olds, so that’s good,” referring to Free Drop Billy, Hollywood Star, and Dak Attack also being Derby hopefuls. Meanwhile, Pennington, a perennial leading rider at Parx, was transported to nearby Norton Audubon Hospital for observation after suffering a facial cut and possible groin injury in the first-turn spill. “Frankie said the one-horse [Gotta Go] came over on him and took his legs right out from under him,” said Butch Reid, trainer of Diamond King. “It looks like nothing major is wrong, so we’re thankful for that.” Reid said he believed Diamond King, a winner of his two prior starts, escaped serious injury in the incident. The $2 exacta (6-12) paid $52.20, the $1 trifecta (6-12-7) returned $326, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-12-7-8) was worth $455.19. The KJC co-anchored a 12-race Stars of Tomorrow card with its sister race, the Golden Rod, which was run about an hour earlier and captured by Road to Victory, who finished the same distance in 1:43.36. Four first-level allowances also were run on a program exclusively for 2-year-olds, with the winners being Seven Trumpets, Cosmic Burst, Mia Mischief, and Ebben. Closing day of the 21-day fall meet is set for Sunday with a 12-race card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. Mandatory jackpot payouts are in effect as usual, although the 20-cent Single 6 was emptied Saturday when a solo winner hit for $160,904.