Keeneland: Emollient shows versatility in Spinster score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Emollient complemented her wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes here in the spring by rallying from dead last Sunday to post a 1 1/4-length score in the 58th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland.

Ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Bill Mott, Emollient paid $6.60 as favorite after finishing the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:47.75 over Polytrack. Summer Applause was second, another 3 1/2 lengths before third-place finisher Wine Princess in a field of 11 fillies and mares.

Emollient not only won after radically changing her running style, but also as the only 3-year-old in the field and as the “home team,” in view of her owner-breeder, the Juddmonte Farms of Khalid bin Abdullah, being the race sponsor. She became just the fourth horse to pull the Ashland-Spinster double, following Doubledogdare (1956), Optimistic Gal (1976), and Take Charge Lady (2002).

“For some odd reason recently she’s been wanting to come from behind,” said Smith. “You’re always concerned (when last), but halfway down the backside I tested her a little and I knew we’d be okay.”

Sisterly Love led most of the way, but by the eighth pole she was beginning to tire, and here they all came, with Emollient leading the charge on the far outside.

The Spinster is a Win and You’re In race toward the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. Mott already has Besilu Stable’s Royal Delta for that race.

[BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE: Win and You’re In schedule and results]

“No plans at this point,” he said. “I’ll have to talk with all the bosses about it.”

Emollient, a bay filly by Empire Maker, now has won three Grade 1 races from 10 career starts, including the Ashland here and the American Oaks on the Hollywood turf in July. She earned $300,000 to take her career bankroll to $958,900.

The $2 exacta (5-9) paid $62.60; the $1 trifecta (5-9-7) returned $328; and the 10-cent superfecta (5-9-7-3) was worth $204.86.

Ontrack attendance on a dreary, rainy day was just 9,034.

Keeneland will be dark the next two days before the first five-day week of racing commences Wednesday with the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes, a Win and You’re In race toward the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.