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Mike Smith celebrates his win aboard Proviso in the First Lady on Saturday of Fallstars weekend at Keeneland

2010 Fallstars Opening Weekend at Keeneland

Date: 10/06/2010

Keeneland Race Course in Lexington had its "Fallstars" opening weekend, which included 8 Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" stakes events.


Gio Ponti wins the Shadwell Turf Mile
The highlight event on Saturday was the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) for older horses going 1 mile on the turf in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Acting Zippy, the 60-1 longest shot in the 6-horse field, battled for the lead with 8-1 Enriched through fractions of 24.22, 47.98, and 1:11.91 over the firm course. The fast pace took its toll on both as they tired at the top of the stretch. 4-5 favorite Gio Ponti, 5th early, came through between horses to win by 1 length over late-running 18-1 Society's Chairman in 1:35.06. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 3-1 Courageous Cat third.

Results Chart


The trophy presentation for the Shadwell Turf Mile with Shane Ryan of owner Castleton Lyons Farm in the black suit on the left, trainer Christophe Clement in the black suit on the right, and jockey Ramon Dominguez. Dominguez said, "I want to give all the credit to my horse and to Christophe because I didn't really expect him to be that sharp going a mile, and I was so pleased to see him running that close and so handy like this. (Society's Chairman) was coming on the outside and at that point it was actually the Courageous Cat, who was (drifting) out. They actually bumped into (Gio Ponti), but my horse, I felt pretty confident. He was just taking me every step of the way."


Left: Second place finisher Society's Chairman returns after the race. Sue Lorimer, assistant to trainer Roger Attfield said, "He came out of the race fine. He loves Keeneland. He's just a different horse down here."

Right: Third place finisher Courageous Cat returns after the race. Trainer Bill Mott said it was a good possibility that Courageous Cat would continue onto the Breeders' Cup.



Proviso winning the 2010 First Lady Stakes
The distaff counterpart to the Shadwell Mile is the $400,000 Abi Dhabi First Lady Stakes (G1), for older fillies and mares also going 1 mile on the turf with the Filly and Mare Turf as the target. 77-1 outsider West Hope set the pace first time past the stands and around the clubhouse turn through fractions of 23.92 and 47.54, with 3-1 second choice Wasted Tears stalking her in second. Down the backstretch Wasted Tears took over the lead through 3/4 in 1:11.75 and 7/8 in 1:23.38, but 6-5 favorite Proviso, 8th early, closed 4 wide late to win by 1/2 a length in 1:34.81. 20-1 C.S. Silk nosed out 8-1 Gotta Have Her for second money, in turn a neck in front of 8-1 Fantasia fourth.

Results Chart


Proviso in the winner's circle. Her trainer Bill Mott said, "I knew she was in with a shot, but I knew she'd have to do some running to do it. Mike got her out clear. The last 1/8 mile she was in high gear and got the job done. A beautiful mare. She's been good from the beginning of the year 'til right now. That's 4 Grade 1 wins this year, and she's as good as they get."


Left: Second place finisher C.S. Silk returns after the race. Her trainer Dale Romans said, "If you'd told me going over there I'd have been second, I'd have been excited. Leaving there I was sick, because I thought we were going to win it at the 1/8 pole. But she ran well, ran as hard as she could.

Right: Third place finisher Gotta Have Her in the post parade. She was retired on October 14 and will be sold at Fasig-Tipton November. Her trainer Jenine Sahadi said, "It's not often that you find a mare like her. I never X-rayed an ankle, a knee or a stifle. I never X-rayed anything. There was never any issue. The only thing that happened to her was getting pneumonia. It defies logic to go from a yearling year to the end of her 6-year-old like that. She's such a remarkable horse."



Acoma winning the 2010 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes
The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) was the highlight of Sunday's card. A field of 10 older fillies and mares went 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack with the winner guaranteed in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. 9-1 Rinterval battled on the front end with 8-1 Tizaqueena through fractions of 23.90, 47.34, and 1:11.48 while being stalked by 17-1 Milwaukee Appeal third. Entering the lane, 24-1 longest shot Acoma, who was 6th early, closed well to pass tiring horses and taking the lead at the 1/8 pole through 1 mile in 1:35.95. Acoma and Milwaukee Appeal duelled for the final furlong but Acoma pulled ahead for the 1/2 length win in 1:48.77. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to 5-2 favorite Hot Cha Cha third.

Results Chart


Acoma in the winner's circle. Her trainer David Carroll said, "Possibly this could be her last race. She's been a great filly for us. This is her first Grade 1 (win) and my first Grade 1 (win). To do it together at Keeneland for Helen (Alexander) and her mother, Mrs. Groves, and the whole staff at Meadowbrook Farm is absolutely special. She's run on every surface, won on every surface. It worked out beautifully. Alan (Garcia) gave her a great ride. I'm just so happy for everyone involved with her. She's such a special filly."


Left: Second place finisher Milwaukee Appeal in the paddock before the race. Her jockey Kent Desormeaux said, "She took a breather from the quarter pole to the eighth pole, and I said 'I'm going to win it.' She made a second effort."

Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Hot Cha Cha in the paddock before the race. Her trainer Phil Sims said he will be "strongly looking at" the Filly and Mare Turf.



J.B.'s Thunder winning the 2010 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity
The $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (G1) is the major local prep and "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, with a field of 11 two-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack. 11-2 J.B.'s Thunder set a slow early pace of 24.19, 48.64, and 1:13.40 while as many as 1 1/2 lengths in front of 13-1 Typhoon Slew second. At the top of the stretch, jockey Shaun Bridgmohan sent the pacesetter loose as J.B.'s Thunder drew off to win by 4 lengths over late-running 6-1 Santiva in 1:44.12. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 6-1 Willcox Inn third, while 5-2 favorite Major Gain was fifth.

Results Chart


J.B.'s Thunder in the winner's circle with trainer Albert Stall Jr. on the left. Stall said, "I had a feeling he'd leave on his toes today. He had been so sharp. He had a chance to school around here and get comfortable. Obviously he did, and Shaun just took it to them. (Running in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile) is very much 50-50 at best. We'll probably go to Fair Grounds and point for the Delta Jackpot or the Lecomte."


Left: Second place finisher Santiva in the post parade. His jockey Javier Castellano said, "My horse missed the break a little bit, so I didn't have a choice (but to be farther back). He only has one style, you know--a come from behind horse. But he handled himself well and finished very, very strong. When I asked him he passed a lot horses at one time and he finished so good today."

Right: Third place finisher Willcox Inn in the post parade. Jockey Garrett Gomez said, "For a second time out he ran a heck of a race. He did everything well. He was a little more aggressive than his first out, but he came home good. He did everything really good and there's a bright future for him."



Wickedly Perfect heads to the winner's circle after the 2010 Darley Alcibiades
The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) is the ) is the local "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, with a field of 7 two-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack. 3-2 favorite Wickedly Perfect went to the lead immediately under jockey Rafael Bejarano and set fractions of 24.48, 50.19, and 1:14.95 with 5-2 second choice Wonderlandbynight stalking her in second. Entering the stretch, Wickedly Perfect opened up on the field, cruising under the line 2 lengths in front of 9-2 Harlan's Ruby in 1:46.26. It was just a nose back to 5-1 Jordy Y third.

Results Chart


Wickedly Perfect in the winner's circle. Her jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "Doug did such a great training job. She was relaxed in the first quarter; she was so relaxed I knew she could do anything in the race. I think she's going to be tough (in the BC Juvenile Fillies). She won't have to be on the lead next time."



Dubai Majesty winning the 2010 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes
The $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) is the Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the Filly and Mare Sprint, contested at 6 furlongs on the Polytrack for older fillies and mares. 69-1 longest shot Old Time Religion set fast fractions of 22.47 and 45.65 while a length in front of 30-1 Waccamaw down the backstretch. Old Time Religion stubbornly held the lead to the 1/8 pole through 5/8 in 57.49, but 9-2 third choice Dubai Majesty, 3rd early, wore her down late to win by 3/4 length in 1:09.81. It was a neck back to 7-5 favorite Informed Decision third.

Results Chart


Dubai Majesty in the paddock before the race. Her trainer Bret Calhoun said, "She's run some very good races on synthetics; this is her first win on a synthetic and is her first Grade 2 (win). She's been great to us over the years. We've been unlucky probably over the last couple of years to not win a Grade 1 or 2 with her. We got it done today."


Left: Second place finisher Old Time Religion in the paddock before the race. Her trainer Glenn Wismer said, "She ran a nice race. She finally got a track where speed was holding. In the (Presque Isle Downs) Masters the speed wasn't holding and she got caught coming up from off the pace. But today the speed was holding and I said, 'We're going to be competitive.' "

Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Informed Decision in the post parade. Her trainer Jonathan Sheppard said, "We thought she ran very well. We knew it might be a bit short for her. Her best distance seems to be 6 1/2 or seven furlongs but she was running well at the end and this was a nice setup for the Breeders' Cup."



Wise Dan heads to the winner's circle after the 2010 Phoenix Stakes
The $175,000 Phoenix Stakes (G3) is the oldest stakes race in America and earns the winner an entry in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. A field of 11 older horses went 6 furlongs on the Polytrack on Friday. 79-1 longest shot Goldzar battled for the lead with 2-1 favorite Hollywood Hit down the backstretch through fractions of 22.23 and 45.22. Hollywood Hit took over the lead at the 3/16 pole through 5/8 in 57.04, but 6-1 Wise Dan, third early, passed him in the final strides to win by 1/2 a length in 1:09.20. It was another 3 lengths back to 3-1 Warrior's Reward third.

Results Chart


Wise Dan in the winner's circle. His trainer Charles Lopresti said, "He's done some stuff in the morning here, so I knew he was going to be ready. I didn't know if he was going to be seasoned enough against these older horses. He's really, really fast. We'll make a decision about (the Breeders' Cup) in 3-4 days; we don't want to do wrong thing by the horse. He has a very bright future. He's only a 3-year-old."



Silver Timber winning the 2010 Woodford Stakes
The $100,000 Woodford Stakes (G3) featured a field of 11 older horses sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. 10-1 Central City led through a fast pace of 21.67 and 44.44 with 8-5 favorite California Flag stalking him second the whole way. Entering the stretch, California Flag tired badly to eventually finish last, as Central City opened a 1 1/2 length lead in mid-stretch. 4-1 second choice Silver Timber, 7th early, closed with a rush to win by 1/2 a length in 1:02.30. It was just a head back to 45-1 Due Date third. This race is not part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge.

Results Chart


Silver Timber in the winner's circle. His jockey Julien Leparoux said, "I didn't really ask him. I wanted to save something for the next one." Trainer Chad Brown added, "He has the (course) record (at Churchill Downs) he set this spring. And we'll be at equal weight. I think he's going to be double-tough."


Left: Second place finisher Central City in the paddock before the race. Jockey Robby Albarado said, "I had a great trip. It's always easier to get a good trip when you're on the lead. Our intentions were to get a good race into him because he was coming off a layoff, and he ran big. He's a nice horse."

Right: Third place finisher Due Date in the paddock before the race. Jockey Tony Farina said, "He ran big. I was just with the winner all the way and in the stretch when I asked him to go he picked it up right away. He gave it everything he could. The only thing was when he took time to switch leads, to get on the right one, and that cost him maybe the second place."



Rogue Romance winning the 2010 Bourbon Stakes
The $100,000 Bourbon Stakes (G3) featured 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the winner earning a trip to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. 44-1 Machisa set the early pace of 23.70, 48.62, and 1:13.20 over the firm course with 5-1 Voodoo Storm and 15-1 Forum giving chase. Entering the stretch 5-1 Stormy Rush, 6th early, came through to take the lead but 3-1 favorite Rogue Romance, last early, closed with a rush to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths over 7-2 second choice Cozy Kitten in 1:43.76. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 83-1 Ocasta third.

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Rogue Romance in the winner's circle with trainer Ken McPeek at his hip. McPeek said, "I had the binoculars nailed on him and he was getting a lot of dirt in his face and he wasn't real happy about it. He was fighting the tongue tie in the paddock, so he's really green in the scheme of things, but obviously he's quick enough to win one. He's got the two-turn thing down pat, no problem. He's obviously got a great turn of foot."



Grilla winning the 2010 President of the United Arab Emirates Stakes for Arabians
History was made on Saturday as the very first Purebred Arabian race was contested at Keeneland. A field of 10 older horses went in the $53,250 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup (G1) at 1 1/4 miles on the Polytrack. 4-1 third choice TM Super Bird set the early pace under Calvin Borel through fractions of 26.37 and 53.18 with 24-1 Frysk Me Now pressing the pace in second. 9-10 favorite and undefeated Sand Witchh stalked the lead pair in third. Frysk Me Now took over the lead at the end of the backstretch through 3/4 in 1:20.25, but 7-2 Grilla, who was 5th early, came out 5 wide to take over the lead at the top of the lane through 1 mile in 1:47.72. Kept to task, Grilla easly held off Sand Witchh through the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:15.42. It was a long 10 3/4 lengths back to 31-1 Stoicc third.

Winning breeder, owner, and trainer Bill Waldron said, "I am ecstatic. I was very confident coming in. My horse was fit and ready, and Ricardo Chiappe did just what I asked. I knew Sand Witchh, who was unbeaten in 9 previous races, would be tough, but I also knew we could beat her."

Results Chart

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