Churchill Downs: Island Bound emerges from pack to take Winning Colors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Island Bound took full advantage of a swift pace when she rallied to victory Saturday night in the $110,100 Winning Colors Stakes, the first of three Grade 3 stakes on a Downs After Dark card at Churchill Downs.

With Leandro Goncalves aboard for owner Bob Manfuso and trainer Ian Wilkes, Island Bound notched her first career stakes triumph in 20 overall tries when prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths over Beat the Blues in a field of eight fillies and mares. Speedacious was another 1 3/4 lengths back third, with Gleaming fourth.

Island Bound returned $21.40 after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.89 over a fast track.

Honey Chile and Page Springs dueled through a rapid opening half, and then Good Deed took a short lead, but then here they all came, led by Island Bound on the far outside.

Island Bound is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Speightstown with 5 wins and 7 seconds. She was coming off a runner-up finish in the Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town.

This was the ninth running of the Winning Colors, named for the 1988 Kentucky Derby-winning filly. Dubai Majesty, winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, won this race for Bret Calhoun in 2009 and 2010. Sassy Image, a two-time Grade 1 winner, ran down Beat the Blues last year to prevail by a neck. Calhoun had the two-three-four finishers in this edition.