Trifectas are difficult to hit, particularly with competitive racing on Kentucky Derby (G1) day at Churchill Downs, but apparently less so if Chad Brown is running multiple entries. Betting Brown in the tri can be a rewarding option.
The trainer, who has pulled off 1-2-3 finishes at other tracks, struck gold, silver, and bronze May 4 beneath the twin spires when his three starters swept the top three positions in the $665,000 Churchill Downs Turf Mile Stakes (G2T). In a test of late acceleration, Chili Flag outfinished Coppice and Delahaye.
Despite all three coming into the race with stakes-winning credentials, a 50-cent trifecta linking the three together returned $35.94.
The difference in the race, at least from first to second, may have come down to recency. Chili Flag had a start in 2024, having won the March 2 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, while Coppice was unraced this year after keeping demanding company in eight starts the past two seasons in Britain for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farm.
Perhaps with a fitness edge or due to familiarity with American racing, Chili Flag scored by a neck. Delahaye was another 1 3/4 lengths behind in third.
"You can see from what I've done through the years, if the horses deserve to be in the race, I individually enter them. I put great jockeys on them, and I let them settle it out on the track," said Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award winner. "But what a good feeling to see your three settling down by the wire."
Brown won the race for the fourth consecutive year and for the fifth time since 2017.
The winner, a 5-year-old chestnut by Cityscape, rallied down the center of the course in the stretch to complete a mile on drying-out "good" turf under Irad Ortiz Jr. in 1:35.95. Ortiz notched his third win in the Churchill Downs Turf Mile, having won last year with Brown trainee Fluffy Socks and in 2019 on Beau Recall.
"I was able to roll with her when I had to. Every time that I've ridden her, she's given me that confidence to come running late," Ortiz said.
She paid $10.06 to win as the race's second favorite behind 8-5 public choice Coppice.
The latter was away a bit awkwardly and raced in eighth early, as Ag Bullet and Walkathon established the pace through fractions of :23.40, :47.20, and 1:11.43. After saving ground on the second turn, Coppice found daylight heading into the long stretch at Churchill Downs but did not have enough to outfinish her stablemate.
"Super run after a long layoff," Coppice's jockey Frankie Dettori said. "(We) came there to win, but it took a bit of time (for her to) kick, and she'll definitely improve from the race. It was a great effort."
Bred by Finanza Locale Consulting out of the Pivotal mare Flag Day, Chili Flag initially raced in France, where she was foaled. Then, in 2022, she was purchased by Mandore International Agency for the equivalent of $137,217 at the Arqana Saint-Cloud Arc Sale from the Guarnieri consignment.
She has since been raced in the United States with a domestic record of 4-3-1 in nine starts. Saturday's victory for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Michael E. Kisber was her third stakes win in the U.S. after her aforementioned success in the Honey Fox and the Forever Together Stakes last fall at Aqueduct Racetrack.
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