Rush Lips (GB), the strong 1-2 favorite and winner of last month’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, secured her second consecutive victory by triumphing in the 33rd annual Grand Prix of the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs on Friday. Trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns stayed close behind early leader Classic Q and held off a late surge from Pretty Picture to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race by half a length.
Purchased for $3.7 million by William Shavely’s Dixiana Farms LLC at the recent Keeneland November Breeding Sale, Rush Lips completed the race in 1:45.75, earning her third stakes victory and second in a graded stakes in a row. Her time was just 0.02 seconds shy of the stakes record set by Mary’s Follies in 2009. Rush Lips claimed the $147,250 winner’s prize and paid bettors $3.14 to win.
Starting from the rail, Rush Lips settled just behind Classic Q and expanded her lead to 10 lengths at the six-furlong mark, passing splits of 24 seconds, 48.46 seconds, and 1:12.21. With the turf rail moved out 24 feet, she shifted outward, challenged Classic Q turning into the final stretch, and pulled ahead in the last sixteenth of a mile. Pretty Picture, initially sixth on the backstretch, pushed from the outside to overtake Classic Q for second place by a head.
“You have to give credit to Brendan and his team,” said Gaffalione. “She’s an incredibly talented filly, as we saw when she won the QE II at Keeneland, and again today. We had an excellent trip, and I was just along for the ride.” Bracelet, Caviar Breakfast, Sea to Sky (IRE), In the Stars, JNJ Heart and Soul, Table Flint, and Something About Her rounded out the placements, while Fast Market and Princess Attitude were injured.
The victory increased Rush Lips’ career earnings to $916,760, with a record of 5 wins and 4 places from 11 starts. Before winning the Mrs. Revere, she captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup by 1 1/4 lengths over Laurelyn (IRE) on October 11, and in June, she narrowly defeated Tepin at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length.
“She has matured significantly throughout the year,” said Walsh. “Our team is grateful to Dixiana Farms for continuing her training. We targeted this race even after her sale, and next, we plan to bring her to Florida to prepare her for her 4-year-old season.”
Rush Lips is a progeny of Arcano’s mare Lamyaa, bred in England by the Pocock family.
The Mrs. Revere Stakes honors a beloved fan favorite from the mid-1980s, Mrs. Revere, who won 12 races and finished second seven times in 28 starts, amassing $429,545 under Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Mrs. Revere’s six wins at Churchill Downs include stakes victories such as the Regret, Dogwood, Edgewood in 1984, and Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. The horse was owned by Dr. Hiram Polk and the late Dr. David Richardson.
Fan Take: Rush Lips’ impressive back-to-back graded stakes wins solidify her status as a rising star in turf racing, offering excitement for fans eager to follow a promising filly’s career. Her story highlights the depth of talent in modern thoroughbred racing and signals an exciting future for the sport.
