Baynerness ends layoff with Roxelana victory
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bayerness notched her first victory in an open stakes by outrunning just two other mares under the Churchill Downs lights Saturday in the $139,400 Roxelana, the opening-night feature of the 44-day spring meet.
Returning from a layoff of nearly nine months, Bayerness glided home a 4 1/2-length winner of the six-furlong Roxelana, finishing in 1:09.74 over a sealed muddy track. Luis Saez was aboard for Belladonna Racing and trainer Cherie DeVaux, paying $3.60 as the favorite.
The Roxelana was reduced to a mere three starters with the early scratches of the unbeaten Carribean Caper, the morning-line favorite, and Euphoric. Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Carribean Caper “tied up,” a commonly used term for muscle cramps, shortly after training Friday morning, necessitating the scratch.
Cheetara led for the first half-mile of the Roxelana before being overhauled by Bayerness as they straightened into the stretch. From there, Bayerness lengthened her stride in a solid comeback victory that came in her first start since she won the restricted Shine Again at Saratoga in early August. The 5-year-old daughter of Bayern now has won five of 11 starts and $427,928.
The Roxelana was delayed by 26 minutes because of a sudden storm that followed an evening of pleasant weather. Earlier main-track races all were run over a fast track.
“She likes it here at Churchill,” DeVaux said. “We weren’t too worried when it started to rain because she’s won on a sloppy track here in the past,” referring to an allowance victory as a 2-year-old in November 2019.
Club Car was along for second by another 3 1/4 lengths over Cheetara.
Turf racing without a hitch
Earlier on the card, two races were run over the new turf course, with no mishaps occurring during victories by Stitched ($25.60) and Richies Great Girl ($22.80) in separate allowances over firm going.
Stitched went a two-turn mile in 1:37.17, while Richies Great Girl got 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.53.
Work on the $10 million course began after the 2021 spring meet ended, with no turf racing conducted at the subsequent September and fall meets.
** Veteran trainer Greg Foley saddled a pair of winners on the opening-night undercard when going back to back with Stitched in race 4 and Altered Shot ($3.80) in race 5. Jockeys Tyler Gaffalione, Rafael Bejarano, and Gerardo Corrales all had riding doubles.
** Churchill is dark Sunday and Monday before the five-day Kentucky Derby week begins Tuesday. The spring meet runs through July 4.