Churchill Downs: Upon further review, Scylla wins Fleur de Lis

Juddmonte’s regally bred homebred Scylla, winner of the $275,000 Shawnee (G3) four weeks ago, continued her ascent in the filly and mare division as the 4-year-old closed from last into a modest pace to defeat Shotgun Hottie by a neck and survive a stewards inquiry and jockey objection en route to a victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $499,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.

Scylla, a full sister to $3.7 million-earner Tactius and Ohio Derby (G3) winner Batten Down, clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.45 under Javier Castellano, who rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

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“This was the first start she went a mile-and-an-eighth, and I thought she handled it very well to get the longer distance,” Castellano said. “She’s been one who’s kept improving in each of her starts to get to the next level.”

Free Like a Girl led the compact field of six fillies and mares through ordinary early fractions of 24.07, 48.83 and 1:12.84 with Taxed on her right hip, Shotgun Hottie stalking from the inside and Occult, Xigera and Scylla relaxing behind.

Midway through the final turn, Taxed poked her head in front, and Scylla launched an eye-catching, six-wide, sweeping move into contention. At the three-sixteenths pole, Scylla briefly lugged in and brushed Xigera, who also made contact with Occult to her inside down the stretch. Scylla surged past Taxed nearing the sixteenth pole and held off Shotgun Hottie, who rallied down the rail.

Xigera’s jockey Julien Leparoux made a claim of foul against Scylla and Castellano and Occult’s rider Irad Ortiz Jr., but after an inquiry, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards made no change to the order of finish.

“At the top of the stretch she came in a little bit, but I corrected her left handed, and she finished strongly to the wire,” Castellano said.

Scylla paid $3.82, $2.52 and $2.10 as the 4-5 favorite. Shotgun Hottie, with jockey Paco Lopez aboard, paid $3.06 and $2.66 as the 3-1 second betting choice. Taxed, at 13-1 under Brian Hernandez Jr., was another length back in third and returned 4.10. Occult, Xigera and Free Like a Girl rounded out the field.

Scylla, a daughter of Tapit out of the First Defence mare Close Hatches, improved her record to 7: 5-1-1, and the $306,210 first prize boosted her career earnings to $721,045. She was bred in Kentucky.

“We had to sweat things out today with the inquiry, but we are very proud to have won this race,” Juddmonte Farms USA general manager Garrett O’Rourke said. “She’s a beautifully filly and getting better every time she runs. It’s extra special with her dam being a champion in her own right and producing talented runners here for us. I’m not sure where we’ll head next but we’re extremely pleased seeing her win again.”

This marked the second graded-stakes win of Scylla’s career. She won the Shawnee at Churchill Downs by 3 1/4 lengths in her stakes debut.

“Coming into this race we knew she’d have to run her best race of her career,” Mott’s chief Kentucky assistant Kenny McCarthy said. “There were some very nice horses in this field as to be expected in a Grade 2. She handled the longer distance test very well. She’s been great to have in our barn and keeps showing she can improve and step up to the next level of competition. I’m sure even bigger races are on the horizon.”