Temple City’s Du Jour gets first stakes win in American Turf (G2)

Du Jour reaches for the wire in the 2021 American Turf S. (G2) – Coady photography

Temple City’s Du Jour, who was making his stakes debut, surged past Winfromwithin in the final furlong to score a 1 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 American Turf S. (G2) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

Du Jour, owned by trainer Bob Baffert’s wife Jill along with Debbie Lanni, was coming off back-to-back victories in a maiden and allowance win on the Santa Anita turf course. Breaking from post five under Flavien Prat, Du Jour made his way to the inside to take up a spot about four lengths off the lead as the field made their way to the backstretch.

Prat held his spot all the way around the second turn and into the stretch, not coming off the hedge until mid-stretch, when he went around Winfromwithin to take the lead. Lucky Law (IRE) closed late for second, but was no threat to the winner.

“These turf horses are easier to train,” quipped Baffert. “You don’t have to train them very hard. We tried to make a dirt horse out of him and he wasn’t that good. I’m really excited about it. And I’m just so happy for Jill. She has to deal with me as a trainer, and all the ups and downs. For that horse to win today, and to listen to her excitement, now she has something that’s hers.”

The win upped Du Jour’s record to 3-1-1 from five starts, with a bankroll of $375,220.

The winner was bred by Woods Edge Farm LLC and is out of the Bernardini mare Guiltless. The female family includes Horse of the Year Ghostzapper and Grade 1 winner City Zip.

Du Jour is Temple City’s seventh stakes horse in 2021 and one of his three graded stakes horses in the past month. He stands for a fee of $5,000, S&N.