Casablanca Smile rolls in Dowager

Chilean champion CASABLANCA SMILE (Chi) (Ocean Terrace) had run well in three prior U.S. starts this season, all in stakes, and her breakthrough performance came at last in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager S. at Keeneland. Outclassing her five rivals after getting away with pedestrian fractions, the 7-5 favorite roared seven lengths clear to finish 1 1/2 miles in 2:33 3/5 on the firm turf.

The early leader was expected to be Speak Easy Gal (West Acre), but when she took :27 3/5 to negotiate the opening quarter, Javier Castellano decided to send Casablanca Smile forward. The Shug McGaughey filly easily took on the front-running role and waltzed through fractions of :53 1/5, 1:18 4/5, 1:45 and 2:10 2/5. Casablanca Smile then sprinted away down the stretch, widening her margin with every stride.

"We've run her three times and she's run great all three times, but today she settled a lot better than she has in her previous races," assistant trainer Robbie Medina said.