American Gal Splashes Away in Humana Distaff

The longest-priced of a trio of runners on the board at 5-2 for Saturday's GI Humana Distaff S., Kaleem Shah's American Gal (Concord Point) overcame an awkward break and outlasted Ivy Bell (Archarcharch) to post her second career victory at the highest level. Lewis Bay (Bernardini) loomed a threat at the quarter pole, but flattened out over the off going to finish a distant third.

Last to load the gate in the field of eight, American Gal took an immediate right turn, but it didn't cost her a whole lot, as she advanced to argue the pace well out into the track as the rail-drawn favorite Finley'sluckycharm (Twirling Candy) cut out a soft opening couple of furlongs in :23.03. Lewis Bay, bumped at the break, mustered to race just behind the leaders as did Ivy Bell. Given her head midway on the turn, American Gal poked her head in front of Finley'sluckycharm, but soon had Lewis Bay breathing down her neck. They raced as a team into the lane, but it was soon apparent that American Gal was doing the best work and she stayed on well to score comfortably. Ivy Bell, in a pocket for a few strides in upper stretch, was clearly second best.

“When you're on the outside you have more options and she got the most comfortable trip and she's a very good filly,” said trainer Simon Callaghan, who won the 2016 Humana with 'TDN Rising Star' Taris (Flatter). “We were concerned because she's never really run on an off track before but she's just got such a good disposition, such a talented filly, she can go in anything.”

A stakes winner and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at two, American Gal was perfect in just two tries last term, including a front-running success in the GI Test S. at Saratoga. She was having her second run this term and was exiting a close fourth to Finley'sluckycharm in Keeneland's GI Madison S. Apr. 7.

Pedigree Notes:

American Gal is the product of two horses campaigned by Shah-her GII West Virginia Derby-winning sire who has since been exported to South Korea and her Grade II-placed dam, who was also responsible for American Gal's SW & MGSP full-brother Americanize. American Story is a daughter of SW & GSP Holiday Runner (Meadowlake), the dam of the recently retired G1SW and 'TDN Rising Star' Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) as well as GISW Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), herself the dam of 'Rising Star' and GISP Marking (Bernardini). American Story is also responsible for a 2-year-old full-sister to American Gal named America's Starlet and a yearling filly by Shah's GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Bayern (Offlee Wild). The mare was sold to Don Alberto Corp. for $2.2 million in foal to Tapit at last year's FTKNOV sale.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
HUMANA DISTAFF S.-GI, $300,000, CD, 5-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.33, wf.
1–AMERICAN GAL, 118, f, 4, by Concord Point
1st Dam: American Story (GSP, $189,200), by Ghostzapper
2nd Dam: Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Dixie Holiday, by Dixieland Band
O/B-Kaleem Shah, Inc. (KY); T-Simon Callaghan; J-Jose L. Ortiz.
$182,280. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-1, $904,980. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Ivy Bell, 120, m, 5, by Archarcharch
1st Dam: Fallseed, by Forest Wildcat
2nd Dam: Numero Uno, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Une Pavane (Fr), by Caro (Ire)
($40,000 Wlg '13 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '14 FTKOCT; $85,000
3yo '16 FTKHRA). O-China Horse Club International Ltd.,
Madaket Stables LLC and Mathis Stable LLC; B-T/C Stable, LLC
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $58,800.[bullet ad=”moreaubloodstock-kydouble”][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”blackwood-graduate-2″][bullet ad=”bsw-bloodstock-purchased-privately”]3–Lewis Bay, 118, m, 5, by Bernardini
1st Dam: Summer Raven, by Summer Squall
2nd Dam: Rahy Rose, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Rose Park, by Plugged Nickle
($170,000 RNA Ylg '14 KEESEP). O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC
(KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $29,400.[bullet ad=”bridlewood-farm-training-graduate”][bullet ad=”stephensthoroughbreds-grad”]Margins: 2, 3, HF. Odds: 2.90, 4.20, 2.70.
Also Ran: Finley'sluckycharm, Torrent, Skye Diamonds, Miner's Cat. Scratched: Salty. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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