For second straight year, Envoutante beats Bonny South by six lengths in Falls City

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Envoutante picked an opportune time to return to peak form. Given a cagey ride by Brian Hernandez Jr., the 4-year-old filly won the Grade 2 Falls City by precisely six lengths over Bonny South for a second straight year on Thursday at Churchill Downs.

“She’s still got it in her,” said Ken McPeek, who trains Envoutante for Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds. “It’s a great day and a great filly.”

Hernandez also was aboard Envoutante when she won the 2020 Falls City by six lengths over Bonny South, but the Uncle Mo filly had just one ungraded win to show from six 2021 starts. Sent away the 5-2 third choice in a field of six fillies and mares in this 106th running of the $500,000 Falls City, she saved ground while vying for command with Army Wife from the start of the 1 1/8-mile race, run over sloppy going. Envoutante thwarted a bid from Audrey’s Time approaching the furlong pole to put things to rest.

“Brian did a fantastic job on the front end,” said McPeek.

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Envoutante returned $7.40 after finishing in 1:51.52 and became the first repeat winner of the Falls City since Screen Prospect in 1990-91. Indian Maid won three straight runnings from 1959-61.

Bonny South, the 8-5 favorite under Florent Geroux, was along late to be second, 3 1/2 lengths before Audrey’s Time. The order was rounded out by Army Wife, High Regard, and Crystal Ball. Cheetara, the expected pacesetter, was an early scratch.

McPeek said Envoutante is booked to be bred next year to Gun Runner, but in view of how she performed Thursday, she might remain in training for the major filly-mare races in the first half of 2022, such as the Apple Blossom or La Troienne.

“This was a pivot race,” said McPeek.

On a misty and chilly Thanksgiving afternoon, and with most racegoers huddled under cover, Army Wife, the only 3-year-old in the field, actually led under the wire the first time, but Envoutante, holding inside position all the way, clearly had more energy in reserve as they made their way past the half-mile pole and through the second turn.

“Even going down the backside, I could tell my filly was going a little better than the horse outside her,” said Hernandez. “Knowing my filly, I thought she would just keep going, and that’s what she did.”

The $2 exacta (4-6) paid $22.40, the $1 trifecta (4-6-7) returned $102.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-6-7-5) was worth $23.20.

Asmussen wins five races

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sent out what is believed to be a track-record five winners on the 12-race card Thursday, although Churchill records prior to 1991 are incomplete. Since 1991, numerous trainers have won four races on a card, including Asmussen on five occasions, the latest being June 27, 2020.

From just seven starters, the Asmussen winners were Generator ($5.60), Front Street ($2.80), Regal Retort ($6.60), Treaty of Paris ($21), and All In Sync ($5.80).

Asmussen will be the leading trainer at Churchill Downs for a record 25th time when the 21-day fall meet ends Sunday.

* Twelve-race cards are set for the final three days of the meet (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), with a matchup of Maxfield and Midnight Bourbon a focal point of the Grade 1 Clark on Friday. It goes as race 11, with post time set for 5:56 p.m. Eastern.