Keeneland Stakes

- Big balloons in the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland, as the way overlaid Dawn of War wired the field at 36-1, wow. In the Cradle at Riudoso Downs, he was actually favored over Laity; he bobbled at the gate, allowing that one to get a jump and draw away to an 11 length win. Yeah, that’s a lot of lengths, but doesn’t seem to warrant such a disparity in the odds this time (Laity was 3-1) especially considering the troubled start.

"We kind of let Laity get away from us at River Downs," [trainer Dale] Romans related." From the outside we had to go. It's always nice to have a speed horse at Keeneland, regardless of how the earlier races have been running. He didn't switch leads but we are working on that.” [Bloodhorse]

And Romans added “I am sure Mr. Ramsey will want to go to the Breeders' Cup." That’s right, Dawn of War is owned by Kenneth Ramsey, and is a son of his favorite son of Storm Cat, Catienus. Just last weekend, another Ramsey-bred (but not owned) son of Catienus, The Carbon Unit, took a stakes at the Curragh in Ireland. The time of 1:48.77 for the mile and a sixteenth is slow, but the track has played very sluggishly the first two days.

Stream Cat closed from far, far back for third, and if you listen to his rider Mike Smith, it sounds like Patrick Biancone has already decided what to do next, and boy, what a surprise. “Those long sweeping turns at Belmont will fit him perfectly." Personally, I think the turf will fit him even perfectly-er, as would a new trainer. Catcominatcha (21-1) completed a $870 exacta

{The headline of the article in the Bloodhorse is ‘War Provides Shock, Awe in Breeders’ Futurity....I don’t find that particularly humorous.}

Alinghi was a big disappointment in the Shadwell; Bobby Frankel complained about the turf course on NBC prior to the race, saying there was no reason for it to be as heavy as it is so early in the meet and with not that much rain. His Australian filly ran a dismal ninth. Edgar Prado echoed the party line after the race. “She just didn’t like the give in the turf course today.” [Thoroughbred Times]

Longshots galore in the first four spots, including 10-1 winner Host (Hussonet) in his first start since February. He was extremely wide all the way but rallied from far back for the win over Vanderlin (27-1), recovering from his brush with the King. Host (Hussonet) would have to be supplemented for $200,000 to run in the Breeders Cup. Gulch Approval (28-1) and Remind (27-1) completed a $80,834 superfecta.