Peace and War Leads Alcibiades Stakes Cavalry Charge

 

Keeneland’s opening day started off with fall showers, but by race seven, the track was upgraded to fast.  Still, the track appeared to be sticky. The Alcibiades Stakes  started off with TAKE CHARGE BRANDI leading the way with FASHION ALERT  pressing the pace, but by the time they rounded the far turn, it was a full-blown cavalry charge for the wire. By mid-stretch, six mud-colored fillies were fighting for the lead, with equally muddy jockeys whipping and driving.  In the late stretch, three fillies separated themselves from the pack as the rest faded. For a few strides, it appeared that TOP DECILE would earn the victory, but jockey Julien Leparoux and Peace and War found another gear and surged by that filly to capture the Alcibiades by about a length. PAIGE was about two lengths back in third and MILEHIGH BUTTERFLY  fluttered into fourth place.  The final time was 1:44.86.

 

 

Sent to the post at odds of 23-1, Peace and War paid $48.20 $13.20, and $9.40 for the win. Top Decile paid $6 and $4.80, and Paige paid $16.40. PANGBURN  scratched.

 

 

PEACE AND WAR (War Front - More Oats Please, by Smart Strike) is owned by Qatar Racing and trained by Olly Stevens.  Sally J. Andersen bred the $300K Keeneland September Sales graduate.  Peace and War previously raced in England.   She has dirt attributes in her pedigree and her dam is a winner over turf and dirt. More Oats Please is a half sister to the sprinting stakes veteran MISS VALENTINE. Peace and War’s second and third dams are stakes winners. 

The winning filly will join recent Chandelier Stakes heroine Angela Renee and Pocahontas Stakes winner Cristina's Journey in the starting gate of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.