Sightseek capitalizes on opportunity to get Grade 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ten minutes before the start of the $222,400 , trainer Bobby Frankel stood in the Churchill Downs paddock and wondered aloud, "I can't win another one, can I?"

Eleven minutes and 22 seconds later, Frankel was again in the winner's circle after Sightseek split horses in upper stretch and drew off to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. It was the second straight and third graded stakes win on the day for Frankel.

Gold Mover, who was disqualified from first and placed second by the stewards in last year's Humana Distaff, rallied to be second again this year, by a head over Miss Lodi.

Frankel said he decided to run Sightseek in this race and You in Friday's Grade 2 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap to give Sightseek a chance to win the first Grade 1 of her career.

"This is a big deal," Frankel said as he made his way out of the paddock, where he had watched the race on the Jumbotron. "I wanted to get the Grade 1 for her; the other filly has won Grade 1's."

As expected, Flaxen Flyer, under Kent Desormeaux rocketed to the lead and set fractions of 22.56 seconds and 46.54. Bailey and Sightseek were in the second flight with Miss Lodi, Gold Mover, and Slews Final Answer. In the stretch, Bailey found a seam between horses and sent Sightseek on through and she galloped away from the field.

Sightseek, a daughter of Distant View out of the mare Viviana, covered seven furlongs in 1:22.12 and returned $3.60 as the 8-5 favorite. She was bred and is owned by the Juddmonte Farms of Prince Khalid Abdullah.

Bailey said he studied the form for a long time prior to the race trying to figure out which horse would try to keep Sightseek pinned in along the inside. In the end, it didn't matter as once Bailey extracted her from traffic, Sightseek made a powerful move.

"It gives me confidence to know she will sit in there as long as it takes and she will explode when I ask her," Bailey said.

Gold Mover had a difficult trip from the rail. She had to go five wide under Edgar Prado in the stretch and did well to be second.

"I had to wait a few jumps to get open," Prado said. "By then, another hole was gone. We will get them next time."