McGaughey's Strong Commitment Rallies Under Desormeaux To Take Featured Superbest Purse

Sequoia Racing’s Strong Commitment made a strong move around the far turn, drove past pace-setter Austons Sure Cure at the head of the stretch and went on to win Wednesday’s featured $50,131 Superbest allowance for 3-year-olds and up by 1 3/4 lengths over Longboarder at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Strong Commitment covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:43.66.

The victory, the second in 11 career starts for the Kentucky-bred son of Maria’s Mon, was worth $30,000 and increased Strong Commitment’s earnings to $92,950.

Strong Commitment returned $12.80, $4.80 and $3.80. Longboarder, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $3.40 and $3 in finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Austons Sure Cure, who paid $4.80 to show under Robby Albarado.

Earlier on the program, jockey Rafael Bejarano became the 16th rider in Churchill Downs history to reach the 400-victory plateau when he guided Distant Sky to victory in the seventh race.

Racing continues Thursday with a 12-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern) and features the 33rd running of the River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Post time for the River City is 5:43 p.m.