Harvey's Lil Goil fights off Crystal Cliffs to win Regret by a head

Harvey's Lil Goil displayed versatility and gameness to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Regret Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs The 3-year-old filly is now a stakes winner on both turf and dirt after turning back favored Crystal Cliffs to win by a head after a long drive.

Harvey's Lil Goil ($24.20) is from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who was last season's leading freshman sire by earnings thanks largely to high-quality turf performers like Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive.

Harvey's Lil Goil made her debut on the Aqueduct turf last November for trainer Bill Mott, rallying from 10th to finish fourth. Moved to the Aqueduct main track for her next outing, she was a six-length winner going a mile.

She then won the Busanda Stakes on dirt Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, rolling home by 7 1/2 lengths. However, when tangling with some of the division's leaders in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes last month at Oaklawn, Harvey's Lil Goil raced in traffic into the first turn and was never involved, finishing 11th.

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Kenny McCarthy, Mott's Churchill-based assistant, said Mott had been pleased with turf works from the filly over the winter at Payson Park in Florida and elected to regroup on the surface after the Fantasy.

Harvey's Lil Goil, with Martin Garcia in the irons, stalked the pace set by Eve of War, and was a length behind through six furlongs in 1:11.80 over a course rated firm. Harvey's Lil Goil fanned into the four path for clear sailing and collared Eve of War near the head of the stretch and inched clear.

Crystal Cliffs, sent away favored off a win in her U.S. debut in a May 31 allowance at Churchill, dove to the inside for running room in the stretch and game on gamely in close quarters to challenge Harvey's Lil Goil. The winner grimly held off the favorite through the final stages, stopping the clock in 1:47.70 for the nine furlongs.

“She was so impressive today," said Garcia, who had been aboard the filly in the Fantasy. "She tried and ran very hard late in the stretch. She was very determined.”

After the top two, it was 1 1/2 lengths back to In Good Spirits in third.