Departing's class pays off in Firecracker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Class came to the fore Saturday night when Departing, the leading earner in the field, came through a narrow opening along the hedge to post a half-length triumph in the Grade 2, $200,000 Firecracker at Churchill Downs.

Departing, now 5, won three derbies as a 3-year-old and brought a $1.6 million bankroll to the Firecracker, a one-mile turf race that served as the closing-night feature at the Churchill spring meet. He got a terrific ground-saving ride from Miguel Mena in snapping a six-race losing streak.

With Mena saving ground around the turn, Departing hit the front inside the furlong pole to emerge best from a well-bunched pack. He paid $10.40 when holding off a belated run by Knights Nation, finishing in 1:38.16 over a course rated good. Sky Flight, the 8-5 favorite, was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

“It worked out very good,” said Mena. “I saw the one-horse [Frac Daddy] getting out on the turn, and we squeaked through. We got through with no problem.”

Owned and bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Departing, a bay gelding by War Front, was making his second start of the year for trainer Al Stall Jr., who watched in Louisiana while attending induction ceremonies for his longtime mentor and friend, Frankie Brothers, at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

“Awesome!” Stall said via text after the race.

Stall said earlier in the week he seriously considered running Departing in the Kelly’s Landing, a seven-furlong dirt race, before sticking “with our original plan coming into the year for him. He’s trained real well all along, and we’d have other options down the road if he shows he likes the grass like we think he does.”

Departing now has won 8 of 17 lifetime starts, with his biggest prior wins coming in the Illinois Derby, the West Virginia Derby, and Super Derby. He has earned $1,720,559.

Hammers Terror was an early scratch, leaving a field of eight older horses.

The Firecracker was one of four straight stakes on the last of 38 spring programs.

The $2 exacta (7-6) paid $95, the $1 trifecta (7-6-2) returned $174.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-6-2-3) was worth $176.50.