A duo of stakes wins in the US

Saturday saw Bill Mott-trained Batten Down and Bob Baffert-trained Show Card find the winner's circle in the Bourbon Flight Stakes and Dark Mirage Stakes respectively.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 22nd September 2024:

Coming off a pair of competitive efforts at Saratoga behind last year's champion two-year-old male Fierceness in both the Gr.2 Jim Dandy Stakes and, most recently, the Gr.1 Travers Stakes, Batten Down shipped to Churchill Downs and got back in the winner's circle Saturday in the Bourbon Flight Stakes.

The 1-2 favourite battled it out right from the jump with Next Level to his inside and the pair set splits of :23.19 and :47.47 before Batten Down really began to get the upper hand. Hades came running on with a nice rally into the lane but was never in sight of the winner as Batten Down cruised home by five and three-quarter lengths.

Show Card backed up her recent win in the blacktype Tranquil Lakes Stakes at Del Mar (2nd September) to add another stakes victory to her record in the Dark Mirage Stakes at Los Alamitos this Saturday. The 3-5 favorite spotted the field a step at the jump and had to sit mid pack from third behind Gila through splits of :23.58 and :47.63. With an outside move midway around the turn, Show Card took command with Indy's Star to her outside, just edged ahead of that rival and held off a closing Coffee in Bed to grab the win.

"She broke out and a little slow, but it worked out well," said winning rider Juan Hernandez. "We were able to sit off the leaders and in the clear. She was strong through the stretch and I look forward to riding her again."