Simply in Front springs upset in Distaff Turf Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On a rainy Saturday at Churchill Downs, Simply in Front won a watered-down renewal of the Distaff Turf Mile.

The race drew 10 entrants of relatively modest accomplishment for a Grade 2 worth $750,000, and by the time Simply in Front crossed the wire a neck in front of Pin Up Betty the field had been further diluted.

Morning-line favorite Special Wan was scratched Saturday morning by regulatory vets. Barry Irwin, part-owner of Team Valor, said in an email that Special Wan might’ve been harboring a foot abscess when vets watched her walk and determined she shouldn’t race. Poolside With Slim, another plausible winner, was scratched sick by a private-practice vet.

That left a field of eight. Sacred Wish, the natural favorite and closest of second choices, flubbed the start and even into the first turn found herself too far back in last.

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Up front, Serene Seraph had established a clear lead – by going into run-off mode, unwilling to settle for jockey Junior Alvarado.

Tax Implications, an established closer, was urged out of the gate and, implausibly, tracked a 23.56 opening quarter mile from second.

What was going on here?

Simply in Front watched it all unfold from seventh around the first turn and onto the backstretch. On her back was Luis Saez, who was supposed to ride Special Wan and took the Simply in Front mount from Frankie Dettori after the morning-line favorite’s scratch.

“He rides with so much confidence,” said winning trainer Eddie Kenneally, who consistently uses Saez when he can.

Saez is not just confident but aggressive. The half-mile split, 48.11, was moderate, and waiting at the rear seemed imprudent, so, past the half-mile pole and into the turn, Saez let his mount roll up into contention. Simply in Front raced wide and with no cover but moved with alacrity and had gotten even with the leaders at the quarter pole.

Serene Seraph retreated, Tax Implication had no punch, and Sacred Wish still was too far back, spinning her wheels. Five Towns briefly mounted a rally that fizzled, and past the furlong grounds it was down to two, Simply in Front on the outside, Pin Up Betty inside her. Both horses were making their first start at age 4, and both had made their last start of 2024 here at Churchill on Nov. 29 in the Mrs. Revere Stakes. Pin Up Betty had finished sixth, Simply in Front seventh. Saturday, Simply in Front turned the tables, and this time, there weren’t five other horses ahead of the pair.

Pin Up Betty finished three-quarters of a length ahead of mildly closing Movin’ On Up, who wound up favored. Five Towns was fourth, Sacred Wish never reaching contention and checked in seventh. Simply in Front, by Summer Front and out of the Blame mare Complicated, paid $33. She was timed in 1:35.46 (89 Beyer Speed Figure) over a course rated “good,” that had slowed by a couple seconds after producing three course records on Friday.

It was the second rich win for a filly who had never earned a Beyer Speed Figure even as high as 90. Late last summer, Simply in Front captured the Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs, picking up a check worth more than $1.1 million. She earned about $450,000 more from the Distaff Turf Mile and is closing on $2 million career earnings for John Burness’s Colebrook Farms.

Kenneally and Mike Maker, who trains Pin Up Betty, said their fillies are likely runners in the Grade 1 Just a Game next month at Saratoga. Stronger competition awaits.

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