'Gutsy mare' Ickymasho holds on in Keeneland's closing day Bewitch

Triton Stable’s Ickymasho turned in a commanding performance to win the 58th running of the Keeneland's Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch before a closing Friday crowd of 17,229.

With the victory, trainer Roger Attfield earned his fourth win in the Bewitch. He also won the race with Sweetest Thing (2002), Noble Stella (2006) and Lady Shakespeare (2010).

Last year, Ickymasho was third in the Bewitch in her North American debut after 30 starts in Europe. She entered this year’s Bewitch following close runner-up efforts in The Very One (G3) and Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park in March.

In the Bewitch, Beach Flower took the early lead against seven rivals and covered a half-mile in :50.25. Ickymasho, ridden by Jose Ortiz, took command as the horses passed the finish the first time and clocked the first mile in 1:39.75. She opened as much as 5½ lengths on the field while 2-1 favorite Gaining, under Florent Geroux and making her North American debut, rallied from the back of the field. Gaining could only finish as the runner-up, 1 length behind Ickymasho.

“When he took command of the race and down the backside she opened up enough that I felt reasonably comfortable," Attfield said. "I thought, please, God, don’t catch her now. She’s a gutsy mare. We’re just delighted with her.”

Winning time for the 1½-mile race was 2:31.26.

Coachwhip, just off the leaders throughout, settled for third as a 26-1 longshot, finishing 5¾ lengths behind Gaining.

Peru (GB) was another 2¾ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Maroubra (FR), Samuna (FR), Beach Flower and Flower Party (IRE).

The victory was worth $90,000 and increased Ickymasho’s earnings to $283,403 with a record of 39-9-11-4. The Bewitch is Ickymasho’s first win in this country.

"She ran good for me when she was on the lead at Gulfstream," Ortiz said, "so I decided to let her go. I wanted to try to surprise them by taking the lead without using her so much. I felt somebody was coming at the eighth pole (nearing the finish of the race) so I had to ask for everything.”

Ickymasho is a 7-year-old daughter of Multiplex out of the Mark of Esteem (IRE) mare Icky Woo.

Ickymasho returned $6.80, $3.40 and $2.80. Gaining, ridden by Florent Geroux, paid $3.60 and $3. Coachwhip was third under Tyler Baze and paid $5.60 to show.