Encino Returns a Winner at Fair Grounds

[Wandering Eyes]

5th-Fair Grounds, $59,170, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 1-16, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:45.59, gd, 1 length.
ENCINO (c, 4, Nyquist–Glittering Jewel, by Bernardini), a late scratch from last year's GI Kentucky Derby, was sidelined since capturing the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 13. He was backed as the 1-9 favorite in this return while facing just three rivals. He was sent to the front by Florent Geroux, led through fractions of :23.71 and :47.21, and, after some anxious moments in the stretch, dug down gamely to hold Accretive (Practical Joke) safe by a length. Encino made his first three career starts over Turfway's all-weather, led by a win in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Mar. 2. The winner's dam, a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}), is also responsible for a Street Boss filly of 2023. She was bred to Midshipman for this year. The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for the soon-to-be-crowned champion 2-year-old filly Immersive and GISW Gretzky the Great. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-4-1-0, $414,915. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

 

Encino comes back on top after a 9-month layoff in R5 at @fairgroundsnola under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing!

TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MS1mQOS5Rh

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 16, 2025

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