Fioretti springs 17-1 surprise in Thoroughbred Club of America

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fioretti gave her connections easily the biggest wins of their careers when she pulled a 17-1 upset Saturday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.

Always in a good striking spot while clear from the outside, Fioretti surged to the lead in the upper stretch before finishing three-quarters of a length before Heykittykittykitty in a field of eight fillies and mares. Judy the Beauty, the even-money favorite, was another half-length back in third after encountering traffic at a critical juncture.

For jockey Sophie Doyle and trainer Anthony Hamilton, the TCA was their first graded victories. Their biggest prior win also came together when they teamed in June to win an overnight stakes with Fioretti at Churchill Downs.

“I had a perfect trip,” said Doyle, a native of England. “We waited to the quarter pole, then I rapped her up and sent her on. She did it lovely.”

The win was the second in a Win and You’re In event on the opening FallStars Weekend for small stables at the Thoroughbred training center, located about 10 miles from Keeneland on the north side of Lexington. Runhappy won the Grade 3 Phoenix on Friday for trainer Maria Borell.

“If everything goes okay, we’ll run back in the Breeders’ Cup” Filly and Mare Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, said Hamilton.

Fioretti, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Bernardini, returned $36.40 after finishing the six-furlong distance in 1:10.04 over a muddy track. Owned by Two Hearts Farm and Don Janes, she now has won 5 of 22 starts, with the $150,000 winner’s share nearly doubling her career bankroll to $330,968.

Desert Valley set the pace in the 35th TCA before Leigh Court, the 2-1 second choice, went up to challenge on the turn. Meanwhile, Judy the Beauty was saving ground all the way but had nowhere to go as Desert Valley began to tire just ahead of her near the rail.

Winner of the BC Filly and Mare Sprint and the divisional Eclipse Award in 2014, Judy the Beauty was making her third start of the year. She will continue to train at Keeneland toward the Breeders’ Cup, said owner-trainer Wesley Ward.

“I mean, you always want to win, but the main thing is the Breeders’ Cup,” said Ward. “She ran really well today but just had some tough luck. That’s racing. Hopefully she’ll move forward in a big way off this race.”

After the top three, the order was Spelling Again, Sweet Whiskey, Desert Valley, Brown Eyed Mary, and Leigh Court.

The $2 exacta (7-1) paid $291.60, the $1 trifecta (7-1-3) returned $572.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-1-3-6) was worth $421.95.