Blessed Flyer upsets Bashford Manor; Pierette prevails in Debutante

Sunday’s $219,665 Bashford Manor S. witnessed the biggest upset in the 125-year history of the Churchill Downs feature, as longshot Blessed Flyer nailed He Is No Lie to pay a record $65.82.

The juvenile fillies in the $222,830 Debutante S. were more predictable, with favored Pierette prevailing over the slight second choice, Epic Reign. 

Bashford Manor S.

Blessed Flyer had produced a similar late rally in his April 16 debut at Keeneland, where he got up by a head in a 4 1/2-furlong dash. Subsequently offered on Fasig-Tipton’s digital platform, he was sold for $270,000 to trainer Michael Tomlinson, on behalf of Patricia’s Hope and Mark Farrar. 

The Dialed In colt was overlooked at 31-1 in his first start for his new connections here, presumably because of the uninspiring time posted in his Keeneland maiden. But the step up to six furlongs and a hotly contested pace played to his strengths as a closer.

Conversely, the race dynamics proved difficult for 1.01-1 favorite Hey Tuff Guy, who was burned up by vying with He Is No Lie for the opening half-mile. He Is No Lie, the 4.57-1 third choice, held a narrow lead through splits of :22.10 and :44.69. Hey Tuff Guy began to lose momentum as he traveled wide off the turn, and he weakened down the lane.

Although He Is No Lie opened up by four lengths in midstretch, Blessed Flyer stormed into the picture in the final furlong. In an impeccably timed ride by Brian Hernandez Jr., the dark bay headed He Is No Lie at the wire in 1:09.98.

Blessed Flyer’s $65.82 win mutuel surpassed the old mark of $51.60 set by Tribalove in the 1958 Bashford Manor, according to the Churchill stakes history.

“Our horse traveled so smoothly today,” Hernandez recapped. “Around the far turn, we were still pretty far back, but I could tell he was getting ready to make a big run at them. I rode him patiently and knew he would come with his run.”

He Is No Lie came close to giving freshman sire Early Voting his first stakes winner. Withstanding the pressure from Hey Tuff Guy and nearly hanging on, he was three lengths clear of third-placer Captain Luke. Sargent Bilko collared Hey Tuff Guy for fourth. Next came Tolstoy, Call Me Micky J., and Tigrado. Super Saiyajin, who was caught by Blessed Flyer at Keeneland, was scratched.

Now 2-for-2, Blessed Flyer has earned $188,255. The $26,000 bargain yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October initially raced for DNG Blessed Stable and trainer Michel Douaihy.

Blessed Flyer was bred by C. W. Swann & Wetherbee Holdings in Kentucky. His dam, the Overanalyze mare Introspection, is a full sister to Grade 3-placed stakes scorer Two of a Kind, Grade 3-placed Psychoanalyze, and stakes-placed Complexifier, from the further family of millionaire Immortal Eyes.

Debutante S.

The top two in the betting, the 2.53-1 Pierette and 2.81-1 Epic Reign, fought out the finish as they pulled clear of the rest. Tracy Farmer’s Pierette, who was chasing on the inside, gained momentum once altering course to the outside and reeled in Epic Reign in the final strides.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse and piloted by Jose Ortiz, Pierette won going away by 1 1/2 lengths. The Girvin filly clocked six furlongs in 1:10.71.

Epic Reign did well to persevere in her change of tactics on the front end. The daughter of freshman sire Epicenter had rolled from off the pace in her slow-starting debut. Breaking alertly here, Epic Reign set the pace while enduring pressure in splits of :22.54 and :45.57. She put away her rivals and established a two-length break in midstretch, only to be run down by Pierette.

There was a 5 3/4-length gap back to Lack of Riesling in third, followed by Valkyrie, Free Closer, The Stork Club, Liberty Rings, and True Blessing. Sr Seventyone was scratched.

Pierette, who also employed stalking tactics in her May 15 unveiling at Churchill, extended her record to 2-for-2, $203,741.

“Axel (Concepcion) rode her really well in her debut,” Ortiz said, “and I just tried to repeat what he did. She seemed to progress a lot from that race and did everything I asked of her today.”

Bred by Bret Jones and sold for $475,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Pierette is the third stakes performer for the Pulpit mare Praising. She is also responsible for stakes winner Camp Hope and Grade/Group 3-placed Shin Forever. This is the further family of Grade 3 victress Promise Me Silver, who captured the 2014 Debutante.