Dame Dorothy overcomes early trouble to win Humana Distaff

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said he’s been trying to figure out all along what Dame Dorothy’s optimum distance might be. And after she defeated reigning filly and mare sprint champ Judy the Beauty in Saturday’s seven-furlong Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs, there’s probably little doubt now what that distance is.

Dame Dorothy overcame some early adversity before out-gaming Judy the Beauty to post a well-earned neck decision in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. The pacesetter Moonlight Stroll succumbed grudgingly to finish third, another neck back, with the three-time Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason checking in a non-threatening fourth in her 2015 debut.

Dame Dorothy got knocked around between horses leaving the gate, but jockey Javier Castellano was able to extricate her from trouble and secure a nice striking position outside horses in the run down the backstretch. Dame Dorothy fanned a bit wide off the final bend while commencing her rally before eventually wearing down Judy the Beauty in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Judy the Beauty, idle since securing a divisional championship with her victory in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, raced in perfect position stalking the early leader, gained command near the furlong marker, continued gamely between horses, and just could not last.

Dame Dorothy, who became Grade 1 placed for the first time when finishing second going 1 1/6 miles in the Santa Margarita on March 14, is a 4-year-old daughter of Bernardini owned by Bobby Flay. She paid $7.20.

“The first 100 yards was a little scary, she got bounced around in between horses, but Javier was able to pop outside and secure a good spot,” said Pletcher. “Being a daughter of Bernardini, I always felt she’d be a little better going longer. But her seven-eighths race at Gulfstream [in the Sunshine Millions Distaff Sprint] seemed to be her strongest, so we decided to back her up in here and [seven furlongs] seems to be her niche. This is an important win for our filly, to get a Grade 1, and beating a mare like Judy the Beauty makes it even better.”

Pletcher said he has no immediate plans for Dame Dorothy but added, “In the long term, a race like the Ballerina might fit her well.”

Judy the Beauty had won four of her last five starts coming into the Humana Distaff, her lone loss during that skein a fourth-place finish in the same race here one year ago.

“I’m bummed,” said owner-trainer Wesley Ward, giving his initial reaction after the race. “She ran a good race first start off the layoff. She doesn’t really love Churchill that much, but she ran a valiant race, and I was happy with that. But anytime you get in a Grade 1 on a big day like this, you really want to win it.”

Ward said the Ballerina could be in his long-range plans as well for Judy the Beauty.