Crystal Cliffs takes baton from stablemate in Regret Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing began her campaign by winning the Tepin Stakes on May 23 at Churchill Downs. Then trainer Graham Motion sent the American filly across the pond where she finished a commendable second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on good-to-soft ground at the Royal Ascot meeting.

The Tepin was a lead-in to the Grade 3, $100,000 Regret Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Churchill, and while Sharing took a more ambitious route, Motion is still represented here by a filly who took a reverse trip over the Atlantic. French-bred Crystal Cliffs will look to remain unbeaten in the U.S. as part of a well-matched field going 1 1/8 miles on turf. She faces four fillies who were flattered by Sharing in the Tepin, led by returning third-place finisher Pass the Plate.

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Crystal Cliffs finished third in her debut last November in France for trainer Didier Guillemin, then graduated by eight lengths in her next outing in December. She subsequently came to the U.S. and won an allowance race on May 31 at Churchill Downs for Motion and the partnership of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables. Crystal Cliffs defeated Witez, who returns for the Regret, by 1 3/4 lengths. John Velazquez retains the mount aboard Crystal Cliffs on Saturday.

Crystal Cliffs earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 for her U.S. debut – tied with the figure earned by Micheline for winning the Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream as the top last-out number in this field.

There is parity in the Regret field. Pass the Plate was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Sharing and three-quarters of a length by Grade 1 winner Abscond while finishing third in the Tepin, with Regret entrant In Good Spirits another head back in fourth. Both Pass the Plate and In Good Spirits were awarded an 82 Beyer, tied with Witez and Hendy Woods for the second-highest last-out number in the field.

Julien Leparoux will be in the irons on Pass the Plate. He rode the filly to a pair of victories last year at Keeneland and Churchill, then got back aboard in the Tepin for trainer Paul McGee. Regular rider Miguel Mena stays aboard In Good Spirits for Al Stall Jr.

Micheline, who won last year’s Sorority Stakes at Monmouth, wintered in Florida, finishing a close second in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant Stakes in February at Gulfstream and seventh in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in March at Tampa Bay. Trained by Michael Stidham, Micheline broke through to win the Honey Ryder by 2 1/4 lengths with a career-best Beyer on May 2 at Gulfstream Park. Stunning Sky was third in that race, and faces her again in the Regret.

Joe Bravo has the call on Micheline after riding her for the first time in the Honey Ryder.

Stakes winner Dominga finished sixth in the Tepin last month, while Eve of War was 12th in that race. Hendy Woods, scratched from the Tepin, has won both her starts, a maiden race and an allowance over the winter at Fair Grounds.

Harvey’s Lil Goil won back-to-back races at Aqueduct by open lengths, including a 7 1/2-length score in the Busanda Stakes, before finishing 11th in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes last month at Oaklawn. Those races were on dirt. She ran fourth in her only race on turf, which came at Aqueduct in her debut last November. Harvey’s Lil Goil is a daughter of American Pharoah, the sire of multiple turf graded stakes winners from his first crop.

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Bashford Manor Stakes

Last Saturday, Tiz the Law, from the first crop of Constitution, won the Belmont Stakes, the oldest American classic race. This Saturday, the Constitution colt Hyperfocus starts in the 119th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes for 2-year-olds going six furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Hyperfocus was a 1 1/4-length debut winner going 4 1/2 furlongs on May 9 at Gulfstream. Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the irons that day for Todd Pletcher – who also trained his sire – and owner Mike Repole. Velazquez picks up the mount Saturday.

Hyperfocus faces a buzz saw in Cazadero, who won his debut by 8 3/4 lengths on May 29 at Churchill Downs going five furlongs under Ricardo Santana Jr. The Street Sense colt earned an 81 Beyer, a standout figure for an early juvenile. The next-highest number in the field belongs to Cazadero’s Steve Asmussen-trained stablemate Hulen. He earned a 58 when winning his debut June 12 at Churchill Downs.

“They’re both very mature, fast horses that the trip will sort out,” said Asmussen, who has won the Bashford Manor three times in its last 10 runnings. “Usually 2-year-old stakes are filled with horses that have had everything go their way, and it’s fixing not to. These are two nice colts and they both deserve this opportunity.”

Hulen’s debut victory came at 5 1/2 furlongs. He is the only member of this field to have run that far on dirt.