Through tough posts and terrible trips, Cugino came into the $275,000 Audubon Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs winless in four starts this year. But it is very hard to get in trouble racing alone on the lead, and after breaking sharply from an inside draw, Cugino and jockey Flavien Prat stole off to a big lead they’d never relinquish. Cugino led by three lengths after going a half mile in 48.17, a solid pace for a 1 1/8-mile grass race. He held nearly the same advantage turning into the homestretch and none of his eight rivals were catching him when Cugino ran his final furlong in 12.32, only .17 seconds slower than the fastest finisher. Cugino won by 4 1/4 lengths as Lagynos rallied into second, a head in front of Camaro Z. Fourth-place Rock’n a Halo’s 12.15 was the fastest come-home time, but he was too far back to come close to threatening the winner. In fifth was Cameo Appearance, an overhyped favorite at 19-10 off a solid but unspectacular Keeneland maiden win. Cugino, the second choice, paid $7.34 and was timed in 1:50.22 for 1 1/8 miles over a firm course. The colt is by Twirling Candy out of Adorable Miss, by Kitten’s Joy. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Trained by Shug McGaughey for West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig, Cugino in two starts this spring had been forced far out into the middle of the course when a rival failed to properly negotiate the first turn. Cugino, as he showed Saturday, has plenty of route speed, but in his most recent start, the American Turf, he wound up racing from 10th after breaking from an outside post position. Saturday’s race marked Cugino’s second start with blinkers and first under Prat. “He broke very well, and I was able to get to the front pretty easily,” Prat said. “He traveled very well and had a lot left down the lane.” A simple explanation of a straightforward stakes victory. Pin Up Betty wins Regret Stakes The 3-year-old filly Pin Up Betty lost her five starts at age 2 and the first race of her 3-year-old season, showing nothing of note in any of those outings. Switched to turf at Keeneland in April following a winter break, Pin Up Betty found her calling. She was second in her grass debut, won a May 9 Churchill maiden race by five lengths, and on Saturday rolled home from last of seven to capture the Grade 3, $272,500 Regret Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. Luis Saez rode the winner for trainer Mike Maker and her breeder, Three Diamonds Farm. Pin Up Betty used a slingshot move into the homestretch to go from sixth at the three-furlong marker to first before the furlong grounds. Buchu found some late stride but was no match for the winner, while 1 1/2 lengths better than 27-1 shot Gavea in third. Gavea tracked the leader, Way to Be Marie, who went an easy half-mile in 49.10 but was cooked in upper stretch as the 3-2 favorite and checked in fifth. Pin Up Betty was timed in 1:50.70 for 1 1/8 miles on a firm grass course and paid $15.30 to win. Dancing in Dixie, Poolside With Slim, and Faith Understood were scratched. Pin Up Betty is is by Constitution out of I’m Betty G, by Into Mischief, and it turns out she’s a grass horse. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.