By: Blood Horse

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/242652/factor-this-tops-kentucky-downs-preview-day-feature

English Affair went back to her roots Sunday, and in doing so, the Calumet Farm homebred was able to rediscover her best form.

The four-race losing skid that mounted for English Affair since early 2019 came to a halt at the site of her maiden victory when she edged clear of pacesetter She’sonthewarpath to take the $99,834 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths.

Since breaking through to capture the 2018 edition of the Cardinal Handicap (G3T) at Churchill Downs, it had been anything but ideal going for English Affair. The daughter of English Channel  only made one start in 2019 before going to the sidelines for more than a year with a hind-end injury.

When she resurfaced in the Feb. 29 The Very One Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, the 6-year-old mare could only manage a 10th-place finish. Though she came into the Ladies Turf off two more losses at Churchill Downs, English Affair drew upon some back class specifically at the Pea Patch.

In addition to breaking her maiden at Ellis Park in July 2017, she finished second in the 2018 Preview Ladies Turf Stakes.

“This filly has shown quality on the right days,” winning trainer Rusty Arnold said. “It seemed like she relished the soft going, got across it good, and ran really, really well. She won the (2018) Cardinal on soft ground, and she ran the same way, a really, really impressive race.

“She has been so good to use. She had a rear-end injury at Gulfstream two years ago. I’ve got to thank the Calumet group for letting her bring us back. Not many people would let you bring a graded stakes winner back at 6, and they did. And it kind of paid off today, which is great. If we could run well at Kentucky Downs, it would really pay off.”

With jockey Rafael Bejarano in the irons, English Affair got away at the back of the 11-horse field but was able to save ground and spurted clear coming into the top of the lane.

The final time for the Ladies Turf was 1:37.35. She’sonthewarpath held for second with Frond getting third.

Out of the Colonial Affair mare Lady Melesi, English Affair gets a fees-paid berth in the Three Chimneys Ladies Turf (G3T) and also improved her record to four wins from 17 starts with $265,179 after coming home at odds of 14-1. Arnold’s original plan was to run her in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon at 1 5/16 miles, but his charge might have just made a case otherwise.

“We don’t know now,” he said with a laugh. “We were thinking the mile and five-sixteenths but maybe not now. She sure handled the mile today.”