Blue Prize (ARG)

Blue Prize posted two win and two seconds in four starts in Argentina before shipping to the U.S. for her U.S. debut in 2017. She ran second in four straight races, including the Grade 3 Locust Grove Stakes, before a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. he earned a breakthrough U.S. stakes win in November at Churchill Downs when she pulled away to an 8 1/2-length runaway win in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap on Thanksgiving.

Blue Prize finished a distant seventh in the Azeri Stakes to kick off her 2018 campaign, but then resumed her strong form, winning a stakes race at Aqueduct and then running a close second to Song of Spring in the Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes.

Returning to Kentucky, Blue Prize started in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on June 16 at Churchill Downs, and scored a driving 1 ½-length win over Farrell with Jose Ortiz aboard to earn an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She then was given a break from training before returning on Sept. 15 for the Grade 3 Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs. She seized command in the Locust Grove and held off a determined rival in Champagne Problems for a narrow victory to improve to three wins and two seconds at Churchill, host track of the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Blue Prize had a final tune-up for the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 7 in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, another “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Longines Distaff. In the Spinster, she settled in a stalking outside position through the backstretch, made a bid through the far turn, and took command in early stretch under new jockey Joe Bravo, only to duck out several times after gaining the advantage. She still had enough momentum to win the race by three-quarters of a length, defeating Champagne Problems for the second straight time.

In the Longines Distaff back at her favorite track on Nov. 3, Blue Prize tired late but still ran well to finish fourth. She did not return to the races until May 3, finishing third in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes. Blue Prize then attempted to win the Fleur de Lis Stakes for the second year in a row on June 15, but was overtaken by Elate in the final strides and settled for a game second.

Blue Prize next started in the 2019 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, where she finished third behind Elate and Escape Clause. She rebounded to gamely win a listed stakes at Saratoga in August by a neck over Vexatious, and then hooked up with Elate and She’s a Julie again – plus Vexatious and Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly Dunbar Road – in the Oct. 6 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Under Bravo’s patient handling, Blue Prize sat at the rear of the compact five-horse field and angled out for a closing rally. She outfinished Elate by a half-length to score a repeat win in the Spinster.

After that Spinster win, Blue Prize shipped to Santa Anita Park for another try in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Under a perfect ride from Joe Bravo, Blue Prize came from well off the pace, rolled through the stretch to overtake pacesetter Serengeti Empress, and had more than enough in reserve to hold off Midnight Bisou  by 1 ½ lengths to halt that foe’s seven-race winning streak and post a signature victory.