Simply in Front put a neck in front just before the finish and edged Pin Up Betty in the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on Saturday on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Luis Saez, Simply in Front ($33 on a $2 win bet) covered the mile over a turf course rated good in 1:35.46.
Serene Seraph led from the start, but at the top of the stretch, Pin Up Betty took over with Simply in Front moving with her on the outside before seizing the lead in the closing strides.
Simply in Front was in front in the G2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at 15/1! đź’Ł
Another win under the TwinSpires for jockey @luissaezpty. She is trained by Eddie Kenneally! 🌟
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Ew9py1w3mt
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
“My new rider [Saez], I didn’t have to give him any special instructions. He’s just in a zone, and this filly of mine, this is her first start of the year, and I think she jumped into the zone too,” said Kenneally.
The 4-year-old filly improved to four wins in 11 starts. Movin’ On Up finished third, followed by Five Towns, Tax Implications, Venencia, favored Sacred Wish, and Serene Seraph. Sacred Wish missed the break and was far behind from the start.
Favorite Think Big ($7.80) overtook Boss Sully with a powerful stretch run and won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint by three-quarters of a length.
The Godolphin homebred was ridden by Ben Curtis and is trained by Michael Stidham. Winning time for the 5 ½-furlong test over a good turf on a rainy day was a stakes record of 1:02.35. The 4-year-old is now 4-for-4 at 5 ½ furlongs with Curtis in the irons.
🧠Think Big gets up in time to takes the G2 TwinSpires Turf Sprint!@_benacurtis was in the irons for trainer Michael Stidham!
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/mMwOWP8qIF
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
“The further we went down the straight, I thought we’d get him’’ said Curtis. “It took me a little longer to get him than I thought, but he got there.”
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