Loved rises to the occasion in G3 Falls City Stakes

Loved secured an important first G3 victory on her potential swansong as she decisively beat Tarifa in the Falls City Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on Thursday, 28 November.

Slightly awkward leaving the stalls, the Brendan Walsh-trained mare soon raced in fifth on the outside of Tarifa as Enclosure established a two-length lead over the field.

Loved started to take closer order with half a mile to race and the half-sister to Maxfield loomed up to battle for the lead with Musical Mischief when Enclosure started to fade turning in.

After hitting the front at the top of the straight, Loved soon took control and kicked clear of the field, with Tarifa staying on to go second over a furlong out. Loved saw out the nine furlongs full of running and was eased close home by Tyler Gaffalione to score by nearly four lengths. 

Brendan Walsh said: “We were pretty confident with Loved coming into this race. She’s been training at Turfway and had really started to put things together in the last three weeks. We are glad she was able to do that when it mattered today and become a Graded stakes winner.”