Saturday afternoon proved to be a prosperous day for WinStar Farm-bred and sold horses, as Bishops Bay and Admiral Dennis each secured stakes triumphs in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Bishops Bay, a 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo that is also co-owned by WinStar Farm, earned a second straight Graded stakes conquest in the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. He entered the two-turn mile event after passing the one-turn mile test in the Grade 3 Westchester S. on May 4 at the Belmont at the Big A meet for trainer Brad Cox.
Guided by Flavien Prat, Bishops Bay battled for early control down the backstretch with Nelson Avenue, but established clear control at the quarter pole. Much the best, Bishops Bay crossed the wire a five-length winner and earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory.
In addition to a second straight Graded win, it was also a fourth consecutive overall victory for Bishops Bay, who now sports a highly consistent record of 10-7-3-0. His lifetime earnings stand at $603,550.
Bishops Bay, a 2021 Keeneland September Graduate, is out of the Grade 1-placed Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift, who also produced Graded stakes-winning and Classic-placed millionaire Catching Freedom.
Bishops Bay, in addition to WinStar Farm, is owned by Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, and Michael J. Caruso.
Albaugh Family Stables’ Admiral Dennis secured his first stakes triumph in the inaugural running of the $200,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park.
Also conditioned by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old colt was in stalking position down the backstretch behind Kentucky Outlaw before confronting the frontrunner around the far turn and kicking clear in upper stretch. Admiral Dennis crossed the wire a 3 ¼-length winner while getting a congratulatory pat on the shoulder from jockey Luan Machado.
Earning a 95 Beyer for the win, Admiral Dennis also gave WinStar Farm stallion Constitution his eighth Black-type winner this year. He has won 3-of-7 starts with earnings of $331,988.
Admiral Dennis was a 2023 Keeneland September Graduate, and is out of the stakes-winning Union Rags mare Gulf Coast. He hails from the prominent broodmare lines of Reine de Course mares Lassie Dear and Weekend Surprise – the dam of influential breed-shaper A.P. Indy.
Additionally, WinStar-bred Claire’s Run was ultra impressive on Saturday afternoon in a frontrunning maiden special weight victory going 6 ½ furlongs over the Churchill Downs main track.
Owned by Rigney Racing and trained by Phil Bauer, the daughter of Speightstown was determined to take command early on and held a one-length advantage down the backstretch under Martin Garcia. Claire’s Run expanded on her lead in mid-stretch and powered home a seven-length winner. The win garnered a 75 Beyer.
Claire’s Run is a 2023 Keeneland September Graduate, and is out of the Street Boss mare Ballykiss. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Miss J McKay as well as stakes-winner and multiple Graded stakes-placed Tripolina.
