Big Bend wins Keeneland's Sycamore in 1st graded stakes
With the favorite stuck in traffic Thursday, Big Bend took advantage, getting up to win Keeneland’s Grade 3, $100,000 Sycamore Stakes at odds of 18-1.
Under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the 3-year-old son of Union Rags covered 1 1/2 miles on turf in a final time of 2:33.24.
Nessy ran late but couldn’t catch the winner, with Canessar up the rail for 3rd.
"His impressive races, he was on the lead, so today it kind of gave us a little window to work with," Van Dyke said. "He doesn't need to be on the lead to win, and he stepped it up to make a big improvement."
Manitoulin, the 7-2 co-favorite, was last the first time past the grandstand and attempted a move into the far turn. Stuck in back of a field of 12, his outside bid fell flat in the stretch.
Big Bend continued a trend of horses running strong back from races at Kentucky Downs, where he won the Sept. 9 Dueling Grounds Derby in his last start. Thursday's race marked his first try at a graded stakes in 11 career starts.
Owned by Union Rags Racing LLC, the colt improved his record to 4-1-1 and joined 2004 winner Mustanfar as the only 3-year-old winners of the Sycamore.
Big Bend returned $39, with the $1 exacta paying $235.40.