Eclatant downs Foie Gras late in Chicago

Backers of odds-on favorite Eclatant had a few anxious moments in Saturday night’s Chicago S. (G2), but the Stonestreet Stables homebred kicked into top gear late to deny upset-minded Foie Gras at Churchill Downs.

Freshened since her photo-finish score in the April 4 Madison (G1) at Keeneland, Eclatant was bet down to 0.77-1 favoritism here. The Brad Cox filly traveled well within herself behind the early leaders, just needing room to launch her bid.

Meanwhile, the 10-1 Foie Gras attended the pace scrum from a good spot on the outside. On the rail, front-running Lotsandlotsofcandy was pressed by Usha through splits of :22.56 and :45.17. Usha briefly took over when Lotsandlotsofcandy retreated turning into the lane, but Foie Gras was moving in tandem with her and quickly put her away.

By that point, Eclatant angled out into the clear and prepared to take off. Yet Foie Gras was making the most of getting first run, and in midstretch, her jump appeared to be decisive. 

The picture changed inside the final furlong. As Eclatant kept responding to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.’s urging, she gained on Foie Gras and headed her at the wire. The daughter of Into Mischief negotiated seven furlongs in 1:22.62 and returned $3.54. 

“She’s really started to get better this year,” Ortiz said. “We had to wait a while to get room in the stretch, but once she was able to get clear, she dug in hard to get it done.”

Ricardo Santana Jr., who rode Foie Gras, praised her effort in defeat.

“We sat a really good trip, and she moved into contention on her own around the turn,” Santana recapped. “Once she got by (Usha) in the stretch, she continued to dig in and did everything but win.”

Evanescence rallied for third, another 2 1/4 lengths back, and Queen’s Martini got up for fourth. Beauty Reigns, Zeitlos, Usha, and Lotsandlotsofcandy concluded the order of finish.

Eclatant’s resume reads 9-6-0-1, $885,423. Third in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod (G2) here as a juvenile, the bay prospered on the cutback to win last year’s Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Eclatant was sidelined after subpar runs in the Eight Belles (G2) and Leslie’s Lady S., but she resurfaced with a bang in a Feb. 15 Gulfstream allowance. That set her up for a new career high in the Madison. The Chicago made her 3-for-3 as a four-year-old.

“She really ran hard tonight to get the job done,” Cox said. “It was another battle down the lane, just like in the Madison, and she got her nose down at the right time. We’re really proud of her effort again tonight, and a big congratulations goes out to Stonestreet. 

“When we brought her back this winter at Gulfstream Park, we could tell she really matured and grew into herself. She’s continued to improve off of that race and has really turned into a top sprinter.”

Eclatant will try to enhance her divisional status in the Aug. 29 Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). 

Kentucky-bred Eclatant is a full sister to Grade 2 victor Mutasaabeq. Their dam, the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, is herself a half to multiple Group 3-winning sprinter Cool Cowboy.

This is the immediate family of $8.2 million-earner White Abarrio, winner of the recent Oaklawn H. (G2) over Sovereignty who will meet him again in Saturday’s Stephen Foster (G1).