Buy TicketsRed, White and Blue Racing’s Denim and Pearls swept past even-money favorite and stablemate Youalmosthadme at the top of the stretch and drew off to a stakes-record 9¼-length victory in the 39th running of the $395,063 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Sunday afternoon.
Prior to the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont, Fandom (GB) won the fifth running of the $207,688 Palisades (L) for 3-year-olds.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Denim and Pearls completed the Beard Course distance of 7 furlongs, 184 feet in 1:26.54 over a fast main track.
It is the second stakes win of the weekend for Randy Gullat’s Red, White and Blue Racing. Neat provided the first victory for the stable in Friday’s Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select.
The duo of Cox and Prat scored their third consecutive victory in the race following Key of Life last year and Matareya, who was an 8½-length winner in 2022.
Vicountess led the field of six through opening fractions of :22.99 and :46.41 while being tracked by Youalmosthadme with Denim and Pearls racing just behind the top two. On the turn, Vicountess gave way and Youalmosthadme took over but the lead was short lived.
Denim and Pearls blew past her stablemate at the top of the stretch and easily drew off.
Denim and Pearls is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence. In posting her first stakes victory, Denim and Pearls improved her record to 5-3-2-0 and increased her earnings to $457,435 that includes Sunday’s check of $244,900.
Denim and Pearls returned $5.58, $3.42 and $2.40. Harbor Springs rallied to take second and return $6.82 and $3.18 under Irad Ortiz Jr. with Youalmosthadme finishing another 3 lengths back in third and paying $2.18 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
It was another 1¾ lengths back to Chi Chi with Tipsy Tammy and Vicountess following in order.
Fandom (GB) prevails in Palisades
Stonestreet Stables’ Fandom (GB) rallied five wide in the lane to pass Mansa Musa (IRE) in deep stretch and post a neck victory in the Palisades (L).
Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Fandom covered the 5½ furlongs over a turf course rated as good in 1:02.83. It is the second victory in the race for Ward, who saddled Chasing Artie in 2021.
Favored No Nay Mets (IRE) shot to the front out of the gate and led the field through fractions of :21.59 and :44.53 while being pressured by Silent Heart and Refuel as Fandom raced in midpack.
At the top of the stretch, the top three remained unchanged with Mansa Musa launching a bid along the inside and Fandom coming from the outside. No Nay Mets began to retreat at the eighth pole with Mansa Musa taking over briefly only to be caught late by Fandom.
A winner on debut here last spring over this course by 6¾ lengths, Fandom is a son of Showcasing out of the Pivotal mare Brogan. Now two for three in his career, Fandom was making his first start since last June at Royal Ascot in England when he was 11th in the Coventry (G2). Fandom earned $113,150 for the victory that boosted his bankroll to $145,375.
Fandom returned payoffs of $17.50, $9.80 and $6.80. Mansa Musa, ridden by Junior Alvarado, returned $14.60 and $8.74 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Refuel, who paid $6.30 to show under Luis Saez.
It was another neck back to No Nay Mets, who was followed in order by Mattingly, Silent Heart, Shards, My Boy Prince, Aspenite, Coin Miner, Ceepeegee and Committee of One.