Bubble Rock leads gate to wire as favorite in Mrs. Revere Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It doesn’t often work that way, but the Mrs. Revere Stakes unfolded just like it looked on paper – with Bubble Rock going easy on the lead from the start.

Unmet thereafter with a serious challenge, jockey Joel Rosario took full advantage of a reasonable pace as Bubble Rock, the favorite in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies, went wire to wire Friday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Mrs. Revere over a firm Churchill Downs turf.

“The whole time, she was enjoying what she was doing,” Rosario said afterward. “When I got to the front, I just wanted to let her be happy and hopefully she’d have a little kick for the end.”

Bubble Rock, bred and owned by the Shortleaf Stable of John Ed Anthony, returned $5.32 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05. Joyful Applause, a 34-1 shot, gave closest chase from the opening strides when finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner and another 1 1/2 lengths before 38-1 Take a Stand. Lovely Princess was fourth, while California Angel, the 5-2 second choice, had no mishap when ninth.

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Brad Cox trains Bubble Rock, now a winner of three stakes – two of them graded – and four of 10 starts overall. The dark bay daughter of More Than Ready won the Grade 3 Matron last fall at Belmont Park and the Valdale earlier this year at Turfway Park. Before the Mrs. Revere, she led most of the way in the Grade 3 Valley View last month on the Keeneland turf before fading to fourth.

“Sometimes it works out just like you hope,” Cox said.

Helen Pitts, trainer of Joyful Applause, was elated with the results.

“You always want to win, but our filly ran just super and now she’s graded stakes-placed,” she said.

Dr. Hiram Polk, who co-owned Mrs. Revere with the late Dr. David Richardson, was on hand to present the winner’s trophy.

The $2 exacta (4-11) paid $179.36, the trifecta (4-11-1) returned $1,827.24, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-11-1-7) was worth $1,203.

Through Friday, seven races had been run at this fall meet over a Bermuda-hybrid turf that appears to have cleared a major hurdle. Two more remain – an allowance Saturday and the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf on Sunday. Churchill officials say the upcoming off-season should have the course in terrific shape for when racing resumes here next April.

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