Don’t Tell Sophia works for Falls City Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Phil Sims went about 70 miles out of his way to breeze Don’t Tell Sophia at Churchill Downs toward the Falls City Handicap, reserving judgment on whether to confirm his stable star until entries were taken Sunday for the Thanksgiving Day feature.

The half-mile breeze in 49.60 seconds Saturday is the only official workout for Don’t Tell Sophia entering the Grade 2, $200,000 Falls City since the 6-year-old mare put in her customary late run to be second to Untapable in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“She’d been training great, and I wanted to give her a chance to go over the track at Churchill one last time,” said Sims, who is based at Keeneland. “We’re running.”

Don’t Tell Sophia, with Joe Rocco Jr. back to ride, was assigned post 7 in a field of 10 fillies and mares in the 1 1/8-mile Falls City. From the rail, the field is Mufajaah, Imposing Grace, Strut the Course, Endless Chatter, Flashy American, Molly Morgan, Don’t Tell Sophia, Teen Pauline, Frivolous, and Tiz Windy.

The Falls City is carded as the 11th of 12 Thursday races. The special first post time because of the holiday is 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with the Falls City going at 4:22 and the 12th race at 4:52.

First post for the last three days of the meet (Friday-Sunday) is the regular 12:40 p.m.