Favored Carl Spackler went straight to the lead after the start and then held off a late bid from More Than Looks to post a one-length victory in the 39th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Turf Mile for 3-year-olds and up to win the richest race in Keeneland history.
Carl Spackler provided trainer Chad Brown with his 50th Keeneland stakes victory and first in the race. For jockey Tyler Gaffalione, it is his 30th Keeneland stakes victory and second in the race, having won in 2018 with Next Shares.
Carl Spackler outraced Talk of the Nation and Spirit of St Louis to the first turn and set comfortable fractions of 23.93 and 47.28 seconds. On the far turn, Carl Spackler began to open up on the field, hit the top of the stretch in complete control and had more than enough to hold off More Than Looks’ belated bid. He completed the mile in 1:34.23.
With the victory, Carl Spackler earned a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile to be run Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In winning his second consecutive Grade 1 race, Carl Spackler added $589,000 to his earnings that increased to $1,568,475 with a record of 10: 7-1-0. He is a 4-year-old son of Lope de Vega out of the More Than Ready mare Zindaya.
Carl Spackler returned $4.14, $3 and $2.36. More Than Looks, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.92 and $2.70 and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Mountain Bear, who paid $4.64 to show under Chris Hayes.
It was another neck back to Running Bee with Spirit of St Louis, Kikkuli, Cash Equity, Talk of the Nation and Noises Off following in order.
Gina Romantica repeats in First Lady
Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica roared past favored Ag Bullet at the eighth pole and coasted to a two-length victory over stablemate Chili Flag to win the First Lady (G1).
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Gina Romantica completed the mile over a firm turf course in 1:33.80. With the victory, she joins Uni as the only winners of the race in consecutive years. Uni won in 2019 and 2020.
Brown recorded his seventh consecutive victory in the race and eighth overall. His previous winners were Dayatthespa in 2014, A Raving Beauty in 2018, Uni, Blowout in 2021 and In Italian in 2022. For good measure, Fluffy Socks rallied for third to complete a Brown-trained trifecta.
Ag Bullet raced off to an uncontested lead with fractions of 22.81 and 46.01 seconds as Ortiz gave Gina Romantica a ground-saving trip in third. At the top of the stretch, Gina Romantica came off the rail and took dead aim on Ag Bullet and blew past at mid-stretch.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Gina Romantica is a 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Special Me. It is her third Grade 1 victory, with all of those wins coming at Keeneland beginning with the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in 2022.
The victory was worth $430,125 and boosted her earnings to $1,786,228 with a record of 16: 6-3-1.
Gina Romantica returned $8.84, $4.76 and $3.62. Chili Flag, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $5.74 and $3.52 and finished 2 lengths in front of Fluffy Socks, who paid $6.82 to show under Frankie Dettori.
It was another neck back to Ag Bullet, who was followed in order by Evvie Jets, Tarawa, Special Wan, Walkathon, Whitebeam, Implicated and Safeen.
Zeitlos goes inside for Thoroughbred Club of America win
Zeitlos cut the corner at the top of the stretch and drew off for a 2 3/4-length victory over Spirit Wind in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Zeitlos completed the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.52.
With the victory, Zeitlos earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to be held at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Clearly Unhinged led the field of six through an opening quarter-mile of 21.54 seconds as Zeitlos was content at the back of the pack. On the far turn, Ortiz guided Zeitlos off the rail to pass Run for the Hills and then went back inside approaching the top of the stretch.
At the three-sixteenths pole, Zeitlos ducked to the inside of Clearly Unhinged to go after Spirit Wind, who had taken the lead. Zeitlos surged past at the eighth pole and coasted to her first graded stakes victory.
The victory was worth $214,288 and made Zeitlos a millionaire with earnings of $1,031,305 with a record of 16: 8-4-1. A Keeneland sales graduate, Zeitlos is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Thyme For Roses.
Zeitlos returned $9.46, $4.16 and $2.66. Spirit Wind, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $4.58 and $2.86 and finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of favored Brightwork, who paid $2.58 to show under Luis Saez.
It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Clearly Unhinged, who was followed in order by Run for the Hills and Red Carpet Ready.
Our Shot gets first graded victory in Woodford
Gatsas Stables, Steven Schoenfeld and trainer John Terranova’s Our Shot hit the front at the 16th pole en route to a 1 3/4-length victory over Charcoal in the Woodford (G2).
Ridden by Luis Saez, Our Shot completed the 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:02.36 to post his first graded stakes victory. It is the second win in the race for Saez, who won on Leinster in 2020.
Our Shot got a ground-saving trip on the run down the backstretch as the quartet of Souper Quest, Coppola, Nobals and Foxtrotanna dueled on the front end. Approaching the stretch, Saez angled Our Shot off the inside and swung five-wide for a clear path and taking over in deep stretch.
Our Shot is a 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Kantharos out of the Northern Afleet mare Fleetheart. The victory was worth $169,725 and improved Our Shot’s earnings to $570,080 with a record of 19: 6-4-1.
Second in this race last year, Our Shot returned $13.66, $7.44 and $5.02. Charcoal, ridden by Axel Concepcion, returned $17.66 and $10.64 and finished a neck ahead of defending champion Arzak, who paid $4.42 to show under Jaime Torres.
It was another nose back to Coppola, who was followed in order by One Timer and Nobals, who dead-heated for fifth, XY Speed, Souper Quest, Let My People Go, No Nay Hudson, Foxtrotanna and Gear Jockey.
A renowned bloodstock agent, Donato Lanni is a familiar sight at Thoroughbred auctions, regularly inspecting and later bidding on young equine prospects.
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