Pin Up Betty rallied from last to first to win the $275,000 Regret S. (G3) by 1 ½-lengths on June 1 at Churchill Downs.
The 3-year-old daughter of Constitution was making her stakes debut following an impressive five-length maiden special weight score over the same turf course and 1 1/8-mile distance on May 9.
Constitution, the second-ranked sire of graded stakes-winning 3-year-olds in North America in 2024, has four graded winners and six stakes winners overall this year.
Pin Up Betty actually broke best of all in the Regret, then eased back as she made her way towards the inside from outside post in the field of seven. She continued to trail until the field hit the final turn, when she began to close the gap on the leaders. She came four-wide into the stretch and took command with a furlong to run, holding off Buchu late to win comfortably in 1:50.70 on the firm turf.
“We’ve tried to get her to the turf a couple of times last year, but got excluded from some races,” said winning trainer Mike Maker. “Her dam, I’m Betty G, was a really nice turf mare for us. So, I think once we switched her to the turf she’s really improved for us. Being a homebred for Three Diamonds Farm, it’s really special to win with her.”
Pin Up Betty is now 2-4-1 in nine starts and has earned $319,365. Her dam, the aforementioned I’m Betty G, was a three-time stakes winner of $353,100.
