Buckleupbuttercup Captures Chilukki by Head

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Buckleupbuttercup got up in the final stride to win the $167,400 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) by a head over favored May Day Rose to complete the Breeders’ Cup World Championships day card Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
 
Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Javier Castellano, the Avalon Farms' homebred Buckleupbuttercup ran the one-mile test for fillies and mares in 1:37.03 on a fast main track.
 
A 4-year-old gray/roan daughter of Najran out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Golden Borders, Buckleupbuttercup remained perfect in four starts at Churchill Downs, a run that includes a victory in the Eight Belles (gr. III) in 2010.
 
The victory was worth $99,638 and increased Buckleupbuttercup’s bankroll to $334,629 with a record of 15-7-3-1.
 
Buckleupbuttercup returned $10.60, $5.20 and $3.60 as the third choice. May Day Rose, ridden by Martin Garcia, returned $4.80 and $3.60, with Maristar finishing a length back in third under Rajiv Maragh and paying $3.20.
 
Persuading finished fourth, another half-length back, and was followed in order by Ailalea, Absinthe Minded, Freedom Star, and Anunciata.

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