Envoutante, who races for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, won Thursday’s $500,000 Falls City S. (G2) at Churchill Downs for the second year in a row, and in rare coincidence, both wins were by an identical margin of six lengths.
Envoutante, 5, also has stakes wins in the Remington Park Oaks (G3) and Shawnee S. and has now earned $931,658.
As she did in last year’s running, Envoutante went right to the front, setting a sensible half-mile split in :49.20. She briefly relinquished the lead to Army Wife on the backstretch, but reasserted herself on the final turn to retake the lead. At the top of the stretch, she quickly pulled away and was all alone in the final furlong, finishing the 1 1/8-miles on a sloppy track in 1:51.52.
“She definitely likes Churchill,” said winning trainer Ken McPeek. “Brian (jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr.) did a fantastic job with her on the front end. When I looked up at the half-mile and saw [:49.20], I knew we were in a good spot. I’m sure her owners are celebrating at home with their families for Thanksgiving, so a special congratulations goes to them. We’ll have to see what happens next for her.”
McPeek added that should Envoutante be retired, she will be bred to Three Chimneys’ leading First-Crop sire Gun Runner, but future racing plans are still undecided.
