Fancy Liquor takes advantage of hot pace to win American Turf

Florent Geroux has the touch. After riding five winners Friday at Churchill Downs, including the final three races – all stakes – he ran his stakes-winning streak to four straight by capturing the first of the Derby Day stakes Saturday. It came in the Grade 2, $500,000 American Turf for 3-year-olds aboard Fancy Liquor, who responded to the waiting tactics employed by Geroux and showed he’s far more than a front-running or pace-pressing type.

The trip was essential. A three-way battle for the lead unfolded far in front of Fancy Liquor, and it cooked, among others, 6-5 race favorite Smooth Like Strait, who was caught three paths wide pressing the pace around the first turn through fractions of 23.04 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.48 for the opening half of the 1 1/16-mile grass race.

Fancy Liquor in his five prior races was on or near the lead, but he settled well back early, fifth in the field of seven. He started picking off rivals while rounding the far turn, was steered to the center of the course, overhauled his Mike Maker-trained stablemate Field Pass in deep stretch and held safe the 11-1 longshot Taishan to win by a half-length.

He covered 1 1/16 miles on a firm course in 1:42.83. As the third choice, Fancy Liquor paid $11.60 for $2 to win.

Taishan, sixth early, also took advantage of the race shape but couldn’t wear down Fancy Liquor. He finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Field Pass, with Smooth Like Strait, under John Velazquez, fading to fourth.

King Theo was fifth, then came Sugoi and American Butterfly, the two longshots Smooth Like Strait was with in the early going. They finished 14 and 20 lengths, respectively, behind Smooth Like Strait. Sunsation was scratched, leaving a field of seven.

“They were going super-fast early on,” Geroux told Donna Brothers on the NBC telecast. “Three horses head to head.”

Geroux said he “knew they’d come back to me at some point.”

Fancy Liquor did not make his first start until February, when he scored a front-running win against maidens at Gulfstream. The American Turf was his first graded stakes win. He had finished third twice previously in two Grade 3 stakes, in the Jeff Ruby in March in his only try on all-weather, and then the Transylvania at Keeneland, which was won by Field Pass. He most recently had won the listed Caesars Stakes at Indiana Grand on Aug. 12.

Maker earlier in the week said Fancy Liquor had plenty of talent, but had not matured mentally. He took a significant step forward Saturday with the hottest rider around providing guidance.

Fancy Liquor, a cleverly named colt by Lookin At Lucky out of Brandy’s Secret, is owned by the Skychai Racing of Harvey Diamond and Sand Dollar Stable. Skychai also bred the Fancy Liquor, in partnership. Fancy Liquor, now a winner of 3 of 6 starts, earned $303,800 on Saturday and has career earnings of $465,050.