Scylla sizzles in the Gr.3 Shawnee Stakes

Juddmonte homebred Scylla took her first Graded victory with a facile win in the Gr.3 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday (1st June).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 2nd June 2024:

Homebred Scylla (Tapit) gave notice she'll be one to watch in the older mare division this year with a facile score in Churchill's Gr.3 Shawnee Stakes on Saturday. It marked the first stakes victory for the 'TDN Rising Star' following a seven-length blowout and 93 Beyer figure in a one-mile optional allowance over the surface on Gr.I Kentucky Derby day. Last year's Gr.2 Mother Goose Stakes and Gr.3 Falls City Stakes winner Xigera, fifth behind Juddmonte's champion Idiomatic in the Gr.1 La Troienne Stakes, was second, while last year's Gr.1 CCA Oaks winner Wet Paint was third.

Favoured at 6-5, Scylla broke cleanly and immediately settled into a tracking spot just off the hip of pacesetter Xigera. Javier Castellano kept her under wraps as Xigera, second choice at 5-2, ticked off early fractions in :24.06 and :48.33. Scylla ran out of patience on the far turn and collared Xigera with enthusiasm. She shifted in down the lane, causing Xigera to shift out, but the race was no longer a contest and Scylla coasted home a three and a quarter-length victress. Xigera was a clear-cut second over Wet Paint, who had dropped back a few spots a half-mile in and closed late to swipe third from Graded winner Hoosier Philly by a neck.

"We always knew her talent was there and the way she's opened up late in her last two starts she's really shown that," said Castellano, who has been aboard Scylla in all of the filly's six career starts. "I thought adding blinkers would keep her a little bit more sharp and focused going two turns. [Trainer] Bill [Mott] agreed and we added them for today's start and it really worked out."

The 'Rising Star' is undefeated in three starts at Churchill, all by open daylight. After two wins at three, she sat on the sidelines for nine months, returning with a neck second at Gulfstream in March and a third in April's Gr.3 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland in her first stakes foray.

"She's been very impressive in her time we've had her at Churchill," said Mott assistant Kenny McCarthy. "I think bigger and better things are definitely in her future."