Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Sconsin gives Foley and longtime owners a second chance
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Greg Foley and his clients of some 25 years have gone down this road once before – although it’s been a while.
Foley and the partners in the Wisconsin-based Lloyd Madison Farms were represented in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park when Champali finished seventh, beaten just 3 1/2 lengths.
“It was a fun time,” Foley recalled this week at his home track of Churchill Downs. “It was exciting, having all the owners there and all that.”
Sixteen years removed from what remains the only BC start for both the owners and trainer, they’ll all be back Saturday at Keeneland when Sconsin goes postward in the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint. The 3-year-old filly used a strong stretch run to win her last start, the Grade 2 Eight Belles on Sept. 4 at Churchill, and Foley is hoping a similar scenario unfolds when Serengeti Empress, Gamine, and Venetian Harbor lock horns through the early stages of the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint.
“It looks like a tough, tough race, but there is plenty of speed in there,” Foley said. “Hopefully, it’ll set up for a closer like us.”
Sconsin, a homebred by Include, was considered for an interim start in the Oct. 17 Raven Run at Keeneland, but “I didn’t want to squeeze her too hard,” Foley said. “It was probably a little too close to this. All the owners wanted to take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup, and I’m good with it.”
Foley can still recall details of the 2004 BC Sprint won by Speightstown. Champali was just 7-1 in a field of 13 after earning a 113 Beyer Speed Figure in winning his final prep, the Phoenix at Keeneland.
“He got in quite a bit of traffic,” said Foley, “and I can’t really say he should’ve won, but I still think he should’ve been on the board. He galloped out real strong, so he finished up with a lot left.”
Champali would race only one more time, ending his career with an 11-for-22 record and $1,073,794 in earnings. Lloyd Madison has owned five other stakes winners since getting into the business with Foley in the mid-1990s, but none approached the status of Champali until Sconsin captured the Eight Belles for her third win in eight career starts. She’s one of nine likely for the Filly and Mare Sprint, with a 10th filly, Frank’s Rockette, expected to be diverted to the BC Sprint.
“We think we’re taking a shot at the right time with her,” Foley said. “We’re just hoping for an honest pace and a fair track.”