Beau Recall gets her mojo back, upsets Distaff Turf Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Beau Recall, who had affirmed her graded stakes quality in the past, spent a good portion of 2018 trying to re-discover the winner's circle. A change of scenery late in the season resurrected her career and restored her confidence, and on Saturday, the mare boldly rallied to her biggest win, topping a well-matched field in the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby Day.

Beau Recall ($23), who began her career in her native Ireland, was Grade 1-placed as a 3-year-old in 2017, and won the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes in April 2018 while trained by Simon Callaghan for Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing. However, she failed to crack the top three in her next six starts, all in California.
Looking to get her back on track, Slam Dunk and Medallion sent Beau Recall to trainer Brad Cox, who winters at the Fair Grounds.

"When we first got her, she was just kind of going through the motions," Cox said. "But once we got her to the Fair Grounds, she seemed to pick it up and move forward. She responded really well."

Beau Recall had an outstanding winter in New Orleans while competing in minor stakes, winning the Blushing K.D. by half a length in her first outing for her new barn; finishing second by three-quarters of a length in the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes; and finally, winning the New Orleans Ladies Stakes by half a length March 23.
Cox said that the mare, now 5, showed even more once moved north to his Churchill Downs base prior to this meet. She fired a bullet work on this turf course last Sunday in preparation for her return to graded stakes company.

"She got a little class relief this winter, and it picked her head back up," Cox said. "She figured out how to win again. I think that got her going in the right direction. She had a great winter, and I felt like she did move forward when she got up here from the Fair Grounds, as far as her training and how well she looked."

Beau Recall had Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons for her first start on the Churchill Downs turf, and was a ground-saving last in the field of 10 at the midway point. Meanwhile up front, Capla Temptress had narrowly taken the lead from Valedictorian and a keen Take These Chains through an opening half-mile in 48.28 seconds.

Capla Temptress continued battling on the lead, still holding Valedictorian at bay by half a length at the quarter pole. But behind them, Got Stormy was revving up in third after stalking the pace.
The latter filly, who was coming off a career-best race when third in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley last out, surged to the lead and opened up 2 1/2 lengths on the field in midstretch.

But Beau Recall, who was still ninth at the quarter pole, was angled out for room by Ortiz. Once five wide and in the clear, she closed with a flourish, surging past Got Stormy inside the furlong grounds to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths.

Beau Recall stopped the clock in 1:37.12 for the mile on a turf course officially rated firm despite taking rain on Thursday and Friday.

Got Stormy held off Daddy Is a Legend by a head to keep second. After the top three, it was another 2 3/4 lengths back to, in order, Environs, favored Precieuse, defending winner Proctor's Ledge, the fading Capla Temptress, Valedictorian, Raven's Lady, and Take These Chains.