Fioretti scores longshot stakes win in Roxelana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saturday’s $70,000 Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs was full of “firsts” for those involved – the first Thoroughbred stakes win for the victorious Fioretti, as well as for her trainer, Anthony Hamilton, and jockey Sophie Doyle.

Dismissed as the longest price at 25-1 in a field of six reduced by three scratches, Fioretti never ran like a huge longshot. She was involved from the break, pressing the pace in third early, taking command leaving the turn, and outlasting the favored Willow Hills to score a three-quarter-length victory.

Doyle said she started to feel confident when she approached the stretch with Fioretti still “on the bridle” and not having asked her yet for her best.

“She travelled great throughout the race,” she said.

The winner, a 5-year-old daughter of Bernardini owned by Two Hearts Farm and Don Janes, raced six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.67 and lit up the toteboard by paying $52.60.

Both the runner-up Willow Hills and the third-place Pistolpackinpenny cost themselves with slow starts, breaking fifth and sixth, respectively.

Willow Hills, favored at 7-10, still looked like she had a chance to win in the stretch but could only muster a mild late gate from fourth despite fast early fractions of 21.11 seconds and 44.16.