Just Might leads gate to wire in Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A good year for trainer Michelle Lovell got even better Saturday night when her stable star, Just Might, held on gamely under the Churchill Downs lights in winning the inaugural running of the $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes.

Away swiftest of all in a field of six, Just Might and jockey Rafael Bejarano turned back a sustained run from Bango in midstretch before finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of late-running Endorsed. The winner returned $8 as second choice when finishing in 1:08.71 over a fast track.

With still more than three months remaining in 2021, Lovell now has won seven stakes this year, with five of those by Just Might, a 5-year-old Justin Phillip gelding she co-owns with longtime client Robert Griffon. Lovell’s previous high for stakes wins in an 18-year training career was four, set in 2007.

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“He’s a super special horse and very, very sound,” Lovell said of Just Might, who now has won four stakes in a row, following the June 5 Mighty Beau at Churchill and the Da Hoss and Chesapeake, both run last month at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

Asked whether Just Might might give the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 6at Del Mar a try, Lovell answered: “That’s a good question. We’ll have to talk about it.”

Bango, the even-money favorite off his 6-for-9 record at Churchill into this race, laid close throughout and loomed a major danger in the upper stretch, only to flatten out in the final furlong to finish third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Endorsed. Rounding out the order were Mighty Mischief, Dennis’ Moment, and Derby Date.

Sconsin wins Open Mind

Some two hours earlier in the filly-mare counterpart, the $296,500 Open Mind, Sconsin edged favored Bell’s the One in a searing stretch duel as both divisional standouts stamped their tickets to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 6.

“They’re two of the best,” winning trainer Greg Foley said after Sconsin prevailed by a half-length in finishing in 1:08.75. “It was our turn tonight. She deserves it.”

Amid fading daylight in the third of 11 races, Sconsin was fourth and Bell’s the One was last in a field of five while Mundaye Call led through fractions of 21.64 and 44.77. Turning for home, the stretch-runners quickly moved outside the other three to take over, with Sconsin and jockey Tyler Gaffalione never letting Bell’s the One and jockey Corey Lanerie past them. It was another four lengths back to Mundaye Call in third.

“My filly ran a heck of a race,” Gaffalione said.

Sconsin, owned by the Lloyd Madison Farms of Fred Schwartz, returned $5.60 with her fifth win from 15 starts. The 4-year-old Include filly heads to the Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar with three career stakes wins, all at Churchill, following the Grade 2 Eight Belles last September and the Grade 3 Winning Colors in May.

Bell’s the One, the 4-5 favorite, will live to fight another day, said trainer Neil Pessin.

“We’ll try to return the favor at Del Mar,” said Pessin, noting the seven-furlong distance of the Filly and Mare Sprint.