Return to Grace storms home to win Dueling Grounds Oaks

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Beaten a nose in the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard, Return to Grace unleashed her frustration by punching home a clear winner Saturday in the $199,429 Dueling Grounds Oaks, the 12th and last stakes of the rich five-day Kentucky Downs meet.

Return to Grace, owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Mark Casse, was well in hand for much of the once-around, 1 5/16-mile trip before rallying to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Queen of Scat. Heath was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies.

Return to Grace returned $11.80 after finishing in 2:12.75 over firm ground. It was her second career victory and first in a stakes in six career starts. The chestnut English Channel filly was bred by Calumet owner Brad Kelley in the name of Bluegrass Hall LLC.

Affileo shot to the lead from her outside post and showed the way to the upper stretch before the field bunched together, with an outside run from Return to Grace allowing her to prove clearly best.

“We’re very excited for Calumet and Joe Rocco,” Norman Casse, assistant to and son of the trainer, said from his Louisville base. “The filly can be tricky to ride but he made a big difference today. She’ll run back in the Valley View next month at Keeneland.”

The $2 exacta (11-10) paid $103.60, the $1 trifecta (11-10-6) returned $345.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (11-10-6-12) was worth $154.25.