3 more horses snag Breeders' Cup passes in Keeneland stakes

In Italian led all the way to win the 25th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 First Lady on Saturday at Keeneland, prevailing by a length in the race for fillies and mares over her favored stablemate, Regal Glory.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Joel Rosario, In Italian covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:33.22.

In Italian’s victory gave Brown his fifth consecutive win in the race and sixth overall. It is Rosario’s third win in the race, having previously won for Brown aboard Uni in 2019 and 2020.

Rosario, who was aboard the Peter Brant-owned In Italian in her previous start, a front-running victory in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga, put the 4-year-old filly on the lead out of the gate and led the field through fractions of 23.37 seconds, 47.00 seconds and 1:10.45 while maintaining a clear advantage.

In Italian had plenty left for the stretch run, opening a 2½-length lead at midstretch and easily turning back Regal Glory, who rallied in the middle of the course to get second.

In Italian is a daughter of Dubawi out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Florentina. Saturday’s victory was worth $397,963 and increased her career earnings to $989,183 with a record of 8-5-2-1.

In Italian returned $7.74, $3.38 and $2.74. Regal Glory, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $2.40 and $2.10 and finished 3¼ lengths in front of Princess Grace, who paid $3.38 to show under Florent Geroux.

It was another head back to Technical Analysis (IRE), also trained by Brown, with Market Rumor and Vigilantes Way following in order.

Slammed shuts door on TCA rivals

Slammed posted her first graded stakes victory in dominating fashion by romping to a 6½-length victory in the 42nd running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America for fillies and mares.

Trained by Todd Fincher and ridden by Florent Geroux, Slammed covered the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:10.03. The victory is the second in the race for Geroux, who won the 2018 renewal on Golden Mischief. It is the first Keeneland stakes victory for Fincher.

The victory gave Slammed a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to be run here Nov. 5. The New Mexico-bred filly owned by Brad King, Suzanne Kirby and Barbara Coleman would have to be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup, something Fincher said earlier in the week the owners were up to doing.

Slammed would become the second New Mexico-bred to run in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The other was Ricks Natural Star in the 1996 Turf at Woodbine.

Slammed grabbed the lead out of the gate and under token pressure to her outside from Happy Soul produced fractions of 22.75 seconds and 46.02 seconds for the first half mile. At the head of the stretch, Slammed hit another gear and drew clear for the easy victory.

A 4-year-old daughter of Marking out of the Roll Hennessy Roll mare Hennesey Smash, Slammed improved her record to 12-9-1-0 and boosted her earnings to $557,030 with Saturday’s $179,025 check.

Favored in the field of eight, Slammed returned $6.78, $4.74, $3.60. Happy Soul, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $6.02 and $4.44 and finished a half-length in front of Joyful Cadence, who paid $5.30 to show under Rey Gutierrez.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Li’l Tootsie with Club Car, Sconsin, Liberty M D and Palm Cottage following in order.

Golden Pal flashes brilliance in Woodford

Golden Pal turned in another dazzling Keeneland performance by cruising to a 1½-length victory in the 26th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Woodford for 3-year-olds and up.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Golden Pal covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in a stakes-record 1:01.39. With the victory, Golden Pal became the fifth horse to win the Woodford in back-to-back years. Ward also won this race in 2014 with No Nay Never.

As he has done in his three previous Keeneland starts, Golden Pal was quickest out of the gate and led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.25 seconds with Gear Jockey in closest pursuit.

Golden Pal maintained a clear edge to the top of the stretch when he found another gear, blasting through the half-mile in 43.42 seconds to widen his advantage and coast to the finish while under no pressure.

Now four-for-four at Keeneland with other victories in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, 2021 Woodford and 2022 Shakertown (G2), Golden Pal improved his overall record to 12: 8-2-0 for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg Limited.

The 4-year-old Florida-bred is a son of Uncle Mo out of the Midshipman mare Lady Shipman. Saturday’s $176,700 check increased his career earnings to $1,815,131.

The Keeneland sales graduate returned payoffs of $2.74, $2.42 and $2.10. Oceanic rallied for second under Julien Leparoux to return $6.86 and $4.58, finishing a nose in front of Artemus Citylimits, who paid $3.04 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another half-length back to Bad Beat Brian and Gear Jockey, who finished in a dead heat for fourth and were followed in order by Charcoal, All in Sync, County Final and Cadamosto.