French Park proves she's for real

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Whenever a horse gets a big Beyer Speed Figure in winning her career debut, a certain amount of skepticism follows the horse to her next start in the belief the horse will be unable to fully duplicate that performance.

But by drawing clear to post a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday in the $120,600 at Churchill Downs, French Park surely made believers out of some of her doubters. Ridden by Mark Guidry, French Park is now 2 for 2 after earning a 95 Beyer when romping in a maiden sprint last month at Keeneland.

"She certainly proved to us at Keeneland in winning by 12 [lengths] was a good enough reason to try something like this," said trainer Helen Pitts.

Mykindasaint set the early pace in the 37th running of the Grade 3 Pocahontas, followed by Motion and Performing Diva. Into the stretch, French Park swept to the lead, then turned back a mild bid Dance Daily before edging away. Trippi Street, a Chicago invader, rallied late to finish second, another 1 1/4 lengths before Coolwind. Lady Danza, another Pitts trainee, finished fourth in a field of 12 2-year-old fillies.

French Park, the slight favorite, returned $6 to win.

Pitts trains French Park for the Stevestan Stables, which purchased the filly for $75,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton summer sales. Stevestan is a longtime client of former trainer Ken McPeek, who turned over most of his stable in July to Pitts.

French Park, a gray filly from the first crop of Ecton Park, finished one mile in 1:37.19 over a fast track. Pitts said the Nov. 26 Golden Rod Stakes would be a next logical start for French Park.

Swept Gold, with leading jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard, was a late scratch at the gate.

In other races on the "Stars of Tomorrow" card, all of them for 2-year-olds:

* Final Copy ($11.60), ridden by Bejarano, drew off to an emphatic 6 1/2-length victory in a $47,620, entry-level allowance for colts and geldings. Final Copy, a Donamire Farm homebred trained by Greg Foley, finished six furlongs in 1:09.46.

* Saoirse Cat ($8.60) got the jump on favored Delicate Dynamite turning for home en route to a two-length victory in a $50,600 turf allowance. Saoirse Cat, trained by Bill Mott, is by Storm Cat out of a Canadian champion, Saoirse. She was ridden by Robby Albarado.

* Mighty Martha ($7.20), ridden by Bejarano, pressed the pace before edging clear to win a $47,620 allowance sprint by 2 3/4 lengths. A Chester House filly trained by Eric Reed, Mighty Martha was making her first start since winning her career debut at Keeneland in April. She finished six furlongs in 1:09.67.

* Wise River ($21), ridden by Corey Lanerie, made a powerful stretch run in drawing off to a three-length score in a $50,145 turf allowance. Wise River, a Belong to Me colt trained by Joan Scott, is now 2 for 2, with both wins coming in grass routes.