Eclatant Stays Perfect in 2026 with Narrow Chicago Win

Following a premature end to her sophomore season after a pair of firm defeats, a rested and stronger Eclatant is on a roll to start her 4-year-old season, and the female sprinting division should be on notice. The Into Mischief filly stretched her season record to a perfect 3-for-3 beneath the lights at Churchill Downs June 20, getting up just in time to defeat Foie Gras by a head in the $299,665 Chicago Stakes (G2). The Stonestreet Stables homebred has always been high on trainer Brad Cox's radar, and now she's in perfect rhythm. Her seasonal debut in allowance company at Gulfstream Park led to a career-best 97 Equibase Speed Figure, which was then topped by a 107 in a nose victory over Grand Job in the April 4 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Cox then decided to wait for the Chicago rather than run back too quick in another spot, having learned to be patient with the filly last year. Exiting a win in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) in January 2025, she missed a start in the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in April due to an illness. Once recovered, she ran ninth in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) and fourth in the Leslie's Lady Stakes, both at Churchill Downs. "I think I just got in a hurry with her," Cox said while reflecting back on the spring of 2025. "She was training good, maybe not great." Cox sent the filly for a break at the farm for the second half of the season, not sure if the graded winner would be brought back or begin her career as a broodmare. Stonestreet made the right choice returning her to the track as she has blossomed at 4, and Cox's decision making in race selection was praised by her jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. "Brad did a great job giving her time to bring her back," Ortiz said. "She went fast last time, and today the same thing. She's getting good, getting in her prime now. Hopefully, she keeps doing the same thing." On a night where Churchill Downs celebrated the United States' 250th anniversary during its 'Downs After Dark' program, Eclatant was a professional from the jump. Breaking sharp from her No. 2 post, Ortiz relaxed along the rail and off the pace as Lotsandlotsofcandy set fractions of :22.56 and :45.17 with grade 1 winner Usha and Foie Gras in pursuit. Ortiz stayed patient, and was able to casually work to the clear on the outside once they began approaching the 5/16th pole. As they entered the stretch, she had clear sailing in front of her. "I tried to save ground on the turn and I was in contact with the field," Ortiz said. "I got lucky that I didn't have any problems when I wanted to tip her out at the quarter-pole. I was able to hit the clear, and she did the rest." However, Foie Gras was no easy customer. A dual stakes winner herself who just missed a graded win when third by a neck in the May 25 Winning Colors Stakes (G3), the Mike Maker-trained daughter of Volatile gave it her all as the only one of the three early leaders to last. Eclatant was all out to get by, but she finally lunged in the final yards to keep her perfect season in tact. She stopped the clock for 7 furlongs in 1:22.62 and paid $3.54 to win. Evanescence closed to finish third. The margin of victory in Eclatant's two graded triumphs this year have been small, but the talent she's been up against has proven among the division's best. Grand Job returned from the Madison to get beat by another heartbreaking nose to grade 1 winner Ways and Means in the Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) June 5 at Saratoga Race Course. Cox is full of confidence that his filly is among the best female sprinters in the country. "I think she's definitely one of the better horses in the division," Cox said. "I think she fits right there with Grand Job and Ways and Means. She showed that in the Madison. We're just trying to get her to that 7/8ths Breeders' Cup race and hopefully be on top of her game." The $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) is the major target for Eclatant, and she earned a financial incentive for that race Saturday as the Chicago was part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series. Her victory earned a $15,000 credit toward her entry fees for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, with Foie Gras earning $7,500 and Evanescence $3,750. Prior to the Breeders' Cup, Cox said Eclatant will target a second grade 1 win in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G2) Aug. 29 at Saratoga, part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win And You're In. With her Madison victory, Eclatant is one of four grade 1 winners this season for perennial leading sire Into Mischief, who stands for a $250,000 fee at Spendthrift Farm in 2026. She is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, making her a full sister to grade 2 winner and grade 1 placed Mutasaabeq.