By Bloodhorse.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 29, 2019) — California-bred invader Phantom Boss inched clear in the final eighth of a mile to win the $125,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) June 29 at Churchill Downs, which concluded its 38-day spring meet Saturday.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Phantom Boss edged Rowdy Yates by three-quarters of a length and ran six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10.78 for trainer Jorge Periban and owners Bada Beng Racing, Tom Beckerle, Terry Lovingier, and Amanda Navarro.
Phantom Boss is a 2-year-old son of 2011 Preakness Stakes (G1) and 2012 Clark Handicap (G1) winner Shackleford out of the Street Boss mare Bossy Belle. He was bred in California by Lovingier and is the first foal out of the mare, who produced an Empire Way filly, her most recently reported foal, in 2018.
Phantom Boss broke alertly from the inside post but settled nicely behind early leaders Verb and Rowdy Yates. Before the pacesetters hit the first quarter-mile marker in :21.84, Phantom Boss switched to an outside tracking position in third, with Snell Yeah just to his inside. Leaving the turn in :45.51, Phantom Boss made a four-wide move to draw even with the bunch. He inched away with a furlong to run and proved to be best.
“I always believed in this horse since I started working him as a baby,” Bejarano said. “He has always been so intelligent ever since I got on him. …The one thing that has been so special about this horse is, not only has he been improving in his performances on the track, but he’s been improving mentally. Today, breaking on the rail, I knew there would be some speed to my outside. We were able to sit a great trip just behind them and get around them at the top of the lane.”
Phantom Boss returned $5, $2.80, and $2.20 as the 3-2 favorite. The Steve Asmussen-trained Rowdy Yates, second under Ricardo Santana Jr. as the 8-5 second choice, paid $3.20 and $2.60 and finished two lengths in front of Verb, who paid $3.20 to show under James Graham at 5-1.
The winner’s portion of the purse was worth $75,950 and increased the chestnut runner’s bankroll to $131,850, with a record of two wins and a second in three starts. He broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park with an easy 2 1/2-length score in a California-bred maiden special weight.
“I told my wife this is the best place in the world to be,” Periban said. “It is such a beautiful track, and I hope to be back here in the spring. When we debuted this horse in open company and he only got beat a nose, I knew we had something special. I told the owners that he could have a very bright future. Today’s performance was unbelievable. I love Kentucky and can’t wait to come back.”