(Cy Fair wins the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs on “Thurby” / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

CY FAIR TURNS TABLES ON SLAY THE DAY IN MAMZELLE; LAGYNOS WINS OPENING VERSE THRILLER; MAXIMUM BOURBON OVERPOWERS ST. MATTHEWS RIVALS; DIAMOND GEM AA ROMPS IN UAE PRESIDENT CUP

 

LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, April 30, 2026) – Medallion Racing, Swinbank Stables, Joey Platts and Mark Stanton’s Cy Fair swept past Slay the Day at midstretch en route to a 1-length victory in the seventh running of the $299,250 Mamzelle (GIII) presented by Kentucky Proud for 3-year-old fillies to highlight the Thurby afternoon program.

Also posting stakes victories on the afternoon were Lagynos in the 21st running of the $349,003 Opening Verse (L), Maximum Bourbon in the fifth running of the $197,500 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes and Diamond Gem AA in the $400,000 UAE President Cup Arabian Stakes.

In the Mamzelle, Midnight Martini clicked off a first quarter-mile in :22.11 with Slay the Day in closest pursuit and Cy Fair racing in mid pack. Slay the Day took over on the turn and had a clear advantage entering the stretch.

However, Irad Ortiz Jr. had angled Cy Fair off the inside and took aim at the leader and gained the advantage at midstretch to turn back Slay the Day who had beaten her three weeks earlier at Keeneland in the Limestone (GIII).

Trained by George Weaver, Cy Fair completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:01.90.

Cy Fair is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Not This Time out of the Arch mare Remarqued. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (GI) over males, Cy Fair improved her record to 6-4-1-1 and with Thursday’s $178,800 check increased her earnings to $892,255.

Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Cy Fair returned $3.98.

Hen Party completed the trifecta and was followed in order by Final Accord, Snow Face Princess, Snappy Comeback, Ifyousaidso, Midnight Martini and Thank You Amy.

(Lagynos wins the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs on “Thurby”  / All Photos by Coady Media)

LAGYNOS WINS OPENING VERSE THRILLER – HRH Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Lagynos rallied between horses in deep stretch to edge Chasing the Crown by a nose to win the Opening Verse.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Lagynos completed the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:34.12. It is the third Opening Verse victory for Asmussen who previously won with Inca King in 2008 and Regally Ready in 2014.

Quatrocentro led the field through fractions of :24.13, :47.12 and 1:10.65 and maintained a clear advantage into the stretch when Chasing the Crown and Lagynos came calling.

Chasing the Crown and Lagynos eased past Quatrocentro at the sixteenth pole with Chasing the Crown taking advantage 30 yards from the finish only to have Lagynos get his nose back in front at the wire.

A three-time graded stakes winner, Lagynos is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Kantharos out of the Speightstown mare Steamy. Lagynos improved his record to 26-8-5-7 and increased his earnings to $2,220,551 with Thursday’s $210,385 check.

Favored in the field of eight, Lagynos returned $4.54, $2.84 and $2.26. Chasing the Crown, ridden by Juan Hernandez, returned $4.46 and $3.28 and finished a head in front of Quatrocento who paid $2.72 to show under Julien Leparoux.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Minaret Station with West Hollywood, Balnikhov (IRE), Giocoso and Mi Bago following in order.

(Maximum Bourbon captures the St. Matthews Stakes at Churchill Downs on “Thurby”  / All Photos by Coady Media)

 

MAXIMUM BOURBON OVERPOWERS ST. MATTHEWS RIVALS – Agave Racing Stable, Evan Trommer and Rockin Robin Racing Stables’ Maximum Bourbonroared past pacesetting Concrete Glory at the top of the stretch and drew off to post a 5 3/4-length victory over Bourbon Bash in the St. Matthews.

Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Maximum Bourbon completed six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:08.81.

Concrete Glory sped through an opening quarter in :23.08 with Maximum Bourbon right off his flank. Prat turned up the pressure on the far turn, drew even at the head of stretch and gradually pulled away.

Maximum Bourbon is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Maximum Security out of the Warrior’s Reward mare Unbridled Reward. Now owning a 6-4-1-0 record and with his first stakes victory, Maximum Bourbon earned $120,210 for the victory to increase his bankroll to $245,034.

Sent off as the favorite, Maximum Bourbon returned $3.92, $2.76 and $2.24. Bourbon Bash, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $10.50 and $4.40 and finished a half-length in front ofBuilt who paid $2.66 to show under Jareth Loveberry.

It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Concrete Glory with Billal, Lofty Adjudicator, Air Invasion and Back Em Up following in order.

 

DIAMOND GEM AA CRUISES IN UAE PRESIDENT CUP – Betty and Joseph Gillis’ Diamond Gem AA led all the way to win the $400,000 UAE President Cup Arabian Stakes (GI) by 8 1/2 lengths over RB Badonkadonk.

Trained by Jerenesto Torrez and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the 7-year-old Diamond Gem AA completed the mile and a quarter over a fast main track in 2:18.11 to establish a track record for Arabians.

Diamond Gem AA was quickest out of the gate with RB Badonkadonk in closest pursuit for the bulk of the race. However, at the top of the stretch, Diamond Gem AA began to widen his advantage to secure his 11th victory in 22 starts.

The victory was worth $240,560 and increased Diamond Gem AA’s earnings to $614,985.

Diamond Gem AA returned $3.56, $2.60, $2.20. RB Badonkadonk returned $2.86 and $2.22 under and finished 3 lengths in front of Highh Country, who paid $3.42 to show under Joel Rosario.

 

MAMZELLE QUOTES

 

Irad Ortiz Jr. (Jockey, Cy Fair, winner) – “George (trainer George Weaver) said ‘Don’t be on the lead.’ Last time (Limestone at Keeneland) I went to the front and we got beat. This time I took a hold on her out of the gate. She was pulling hard but I had her. Then I cut her loose and she went just like she was supposed to.”

John Velazquez (Jockey, Slay the Day, second) – “We had a perfect trip, one other horse was just better today.”

 

OPENING VERSE QUOTES

 

Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Lagynos, winner) – “No, I couldn’t tell; I didn’t know if I’d won it. But I did. Steve (trainer Asmussen) didn’t give me any instructions. He just says ‘ride.’ The trip was a good one. I was right where I wanted to be. When it was time, I asked him and he gave me a good finish.”

Steve Asmussen (Trainer, Lagynos, winner) – “I’m just so proud of him. He’s such a talented horse and he was able to show his talent again this afternoon.”

Juan Hernandez (Jockey, Chasing the Crown, second) – “My horse ran big, we got a good trip. We were fighting with the winner the entire stretch. We didn’t get the bob on the wire, but Mike Maker did a really good job getting the horse ready and he ran well.”

MATTHEWS QUOTES

 Flavien Prat (Jockey, Maximum Bourbon, winner) – “Good trip for me; he did exactly what we wanted him to do. Phil (trainer D’Amato) didn’t have any special instructions for me (It was Prat’s first time on the horse). He just told me he was a kind horse. He ran well and it all worked out for the best.”

Joel Rosario (Jockey, Bourbon Bash, second) – “He did his best and tried hard, finishing well. We got the trip we wanted and I was really happy with the race.”

 

UAE PRESIDENT CUP QUOTES

 

Irad Ortiz Jr. (Jockey, Diamond Gem AA, winner) – “That was fun. He broke good so I let him go on with it. He was running easy all the way around. Then when we turned for home I asked him and he took off. Good win. This was the first time I ever won an Arabian stakes.”

Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez (Jockey, RB Badonkadonk, second) – “She stumbled at the break, but I don’t think it cost us the race. She still tried hard, but I think it may have been a different story on the turf.”