Evanescence runs her way into Breeders' Cup with TCA Stakes win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Best race to best race, Evanescence could not beat Echo Sound or, even more so, Eclatant. Neither of those horses had their best day Saturday at Keeneland, where Evanescence wore down pacesetting Praying to win the Grade 2, $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes by a neck.

Echo Sound tracked Praying but threw in the towel at the quarter pole, while Eclatant’s marauding wide run around the turn petered out at the three-sixteenths. But there came Evanescence, rallying steadily under Jose Ortiz. Praying, a 14-1 shot who won this race a year ago, battled back when headed, but Evanescence had too much.

Evanescence raced from fifth but not far behind the leaders, settling right behind Echo Sound and Eclatant going around the turn.

“I was full of horse passing the three-eighths pole, just waiting for the right moment to tip outside and let her go,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz took a right turn past the five-sixteenths, got to the far outside at the quarter pole, and Evanescence took care of business.

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“Obviously, she loves it here,” Ortiz said.

Indeed, she does. Evanescence is now 3 for 3 at Keeneland, and earned automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here in one month, the TCA being part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. Eddie Kenneally, who trains Evanescence for the Green Lantern Stable, said not only the location of the race, but the distance of the Filly and Mare Sprint should suit his horse.

“She loves Keeneland, and I think the distance of that race is ideal, too,” Kenneally said.

Praying, who ran gamely in defeat, had 4 3/4 lengths on third-place Eclatant, who was a half-length better than Echo Sound.

The betting market saw this coming: Evanescence was bet below her expected win price and paid $7.98 as the strong third choice. By Munnings out of Lovely Carina, by Pioneerof the Nile, Evanescence ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.57 – and ran her way into the Breeders’ Cup.

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