Four Graces sets track and stakes record in Beaumont

Four Graces remained unbeaten in four starts at seven furlongs after pouring it on in the lane to set a track and stakes record in the Grade 3, $100,000 Beaumont Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland on Friday.

Four Graces drew clear by 4 3/4 lengths to complete the race, officially designated by Keeneland as "about seven furlongs," in 1:24.90. That time shaded the previous stakes record of 1:24.93 established by Street Sounds in winning the 2007 Beaumont over the old “pre-Polytrack” dirt surface. Two Weeks Off ran "about seven furlongs" in 1:25.13 to win an allowance race in April 2015, establishing the track record on the current dirt course installed at Keeneland in time for the fall 2014 meeting.

This was the second consecutive graded stakes win for Four Graces, who previously took the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Majesticperfection filly, a half sister to Grade 2 winner McCraken, has now won four of five starts overall, with all four wins coming at seven furlongs. Her only loss came when she finished fourth in a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park.

With her two graded wins, the filly has now earned a total of 40 points toward a spot in the starting gate for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. However, immediately after the race, trainer Ian Wilkes indicated that he and owner-breeder Janis Whitham are likely to keep Four Graces at her preferred distance, targeting the Grade 1 Test Stakes, also at seven furlongs, on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

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Four Graces ($3.40), who was sent away favored under Julien Leparoux, broke sharply and was engaged by Grade 1-winning juvenile Wicked Whisper, who was making her first start of 2020, through an opening quarter of 22.29 seconds. Four Graces edged her way to a half-length lead through a half mile in 44.37 seconds, and began to shake off Wicked Whisper around the far turn. She continued to widen her advantage after cutting the corner, and continued on straight and true to the wire.

"She’s a fast filly," Leparoux said. "The track is pretty quick today, too. But she was doing it very nicely for me in a good rhythm. That’s the way she likes to run – free – and she makes that big kick at the end."

Sconsin, making her stakes debut off an impressive allowance win, was last of five after a quarter-mile, and rallied well while wide in the stretch to be easily best of the rest while never threatening the winner. She was 4 3/4 lengths clear of Turtle Trax in third, and was followed by Wicked Whisper and Slam Dunk.