In her first start since capturing the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at Keeneland by a nose Apr. 4, ECLATANT (f, 4, Into Mischief–Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy) got on the winning side of another photo finish Saturday, pushing past Foie Gras (Volatile) to win the GII Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Eclatant came into this race sporting the best numbers of her career, including the aforementioned elite-level victory at Keeneland the previous April. That 109 Beyer came on the back of her seasonal bow Feb. 15 at Gulfstream where she defeated a group of optional claimers and was given a 104 Beyer for the 2 3/4-length victory. She also took home hardware in 2025 for her win in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes.
Boxed in on the rail up the backstretch as Lotsandlotsofcandy (Twirling Candy) and Usha (Tiz the Law) worked through fractions of :22.56 and :45.17, the 3-5 favorite had to slip out from behind that wall of frontrunners at the quarter pole. Foie Gras had gotten first jump to her inside but needed the line as Eclatant began to wear that rival down inside the sixteenth pole. The pair hit the wire together as Eclatant surged in time to win the bob.
Evanescence (Munnings) finished up third as Usha faded inside to seventh. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.62. The GII Chicago Stakes is one of two Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen races featured for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
“She really ran hard tonight to get the job done,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It was another battle down the lane, just like in the Madison, and she got her nose down at the right time. We're really proud of her effort again tonight and a big congratulations goes out to Stonestreet.”
“When we brought her back this winter at Gulfstream Park, we could tell she really matured and grew into herself. She's continued to improve off of that race and has really turned into a top sprinter.”
Eclatant wins down to the wire in the Chicago Stakes! pic.twitter.com/p6favC7nuj
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 21, 2026
Pedigree Note:
Eclatant is the second Grade I runner for Downside Scenario (Scat Daddy) behind her eldest full-brother Mustasaabeq, who was third in the GI Runhappy Hopeful Stakes during his racing career. The dam has an unplaced 3-year-old after this victress as well as a juvenile filly in the wings named Don't Suffer Fools (Curlin). The youngest is a 2026 full-brother to the Grade I runners.
It isn't just Downside Scenario who has produced horses who claimed Grade I black-type in their careers. This is also the female family of her half-sister Catching Diamonds (Into Mischief), most famous as the dam of the sensational MGISW White Abarrio (Race Day). That pair claims MGSW-UAE Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) as a half-sibling, and another half-sister, SP Appeal to the Win (Successful Appeal), has produced SP Mr Phil (Mr Speaker).
A branch of this female line made its way to Brazil, yielding a fleet of accomplished Group 1 runners led by champions Juno (Brz) and Love 'N' Happiness (Brz), both of whom are by Setembro Chove (Brz).
Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHICAGO S.-GII, $299,665, Churchill Downs, 6-20, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.62, ft.
1–ECLATANT, 123, f, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Grand Breeze, by Grand Slam
3rd Dam: Breeze Lass, by It's Freezing
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $180,350. Lifetime Record: GISW, 9-6-0-1, $885,423. *Full to Mutasaabeq, GSW & GISP, $259,670. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Foie Gras, 118, f, 4, Volatile–Table Manners, by Algorithms.
($95,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $170,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $100,000 3yo '25 FTDDE). O-Paradise Farms Corp., P Shooter Stable and Emcee Stable LLC; B-E. H. Beau Lane (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $58,500.
3–Evanescence, 118, f, 4, Munnings–Lovely Carina, by Pioneerof the Nile. ($250,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Green Lantern Stables LLC; B-Stud TNT, LLC (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $29,250.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.77, 10.65, 12.18.
Also Ran: Queen's Martini, Beauty Reigns, Zeitlos, Usha, Lotsandlotsofcandy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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