Ivar upsets Shadwell Mile to earn Breeders' Cup berth

Make room for a new face in the turf division as Brazilian-bred Ivar, a Group 1 winner in Argentina making his fifth start in the U.S., launched from far back and blew past the field to win the Grade 1, $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday.

With the victory, Ivar earns a fees-paid berth in next month's Breeders' Cup Mile, also at Keeneland.  

Teaming up for the third straight race, Ivar and jockey Joe Talamo employed different tactics Saturday with the removal of blinkers. Instead of being on or near the pace as in the past two efforts, they were content to have just two horses beat down the backstretch in a strung-out field with Casa Creed leading the way. Ivar -- who at 14-1 was the third-highest price in the nine horse field -- steadily began to improve his position on the second turn while racing widest of all, and then uncorked a burst of acceleration down the middle of the stretch to surge to the lead and hold off a rallying Raging Bull by a length. 

Trained by Paulo Lobo, Ivar completed the trip on firm turf in 1:33.99 and paid $30.80 for the upset. Raging Bull was followed by Without Parole with Casa Creed, who remained on the lead into the stretch, holding for fourth. 

“Down the backside, he got in such a good rhythm, was so relaxed," Talamo said. Congratulations to Paulo. He did a great job training this horse, (changing) his tactics. When he won at Churchill (in June), he was in front. He took the blinkers off. Just an incredible training job on his part to get this horse to turn off like that. I was all smiles turning for home when I took him out there. He just exploded.”

Following the win by Ivar, the celebration was on for Lobo and the connections.

“You know how hard it is to win a Grade 1, especially here at Keeneland," Lobo said. "We need to celebrate.

“We were very worried about the (outside 11) post position, but his style if you see his races in Argentina, he always comes from off the pace – way off the pace," Lobo added. "Today, it worked very well. I was very concerned because of the first turn. Joe (Talamo) rode him 100 percent magnificent.”

Owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I, Ivar was a two-time Group 1 winner in Brazil before arriving in the U.S. The 4-year-old colt by Japanese-bred Agnes Gold out of the Smart Strike mare May Be Now was unveiled in a Churchill Downs allowance and ran fifth, but came right back to win a similar event at Churchill a month later. After a brief freshening, Ivar was third in the Sept. 7 Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs in his start prior to the Shadwell.