Keeneland: Kingsbarns turns back the clock, wins Ben Ali
Lexington, Ky.
It seems like it has been a lot longer than the 13 months it has been since Kingsbarns won the Louisiana Derby (G2) to carry momentum into the Kentucky Derby.
That was the last time he had won a graded stakes. Then came Saturday, when the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt owned by Spendthrift Farm simultaneously turned back the clock and moved forward to win the slowly run Grade 3, $300,000 Ben Ali Stakes covering 1 3/16 miles of the fast main track at Keeneland.
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For Kingsbarns (8-5), the post-time favorite, it was his second start for trainer Todd Pletcher since he came off an 8 1/2-month break. The first resulted in a seven-furlong allowance win last month at Gulfstream Park.
“I think this is a credit to Todd’s management and the fact that (owner) Eric Gustavson gave him the time that he needed,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said.
It was not just a rollback of the clock to last year. Time seemed to stand still throughout the Ben Ali. Following early fractions of 24.07, 48.57 and 1:13.66, most of the field pounced when pacesetter Laughing Boy (17-1) retreated in the second turn. After looking keen among the vanguard in the first turn, Kingsbarns settled into a relaxed stride on the backstretch, racing fourth in the field of nine.
“We came late, and we planned it,” winning jockey Luis Sáez said. “I was trying to track (Laughing Boy), but it was pretty slow. We were pretty confident. Kingsbarns, he always has a big turn of foot down the stretch.”
That he did.
War Campaign (7-2) took the lead with three furlongs left and quickly found himself in a duel with Kingsbarns, who was in hot pursuit to his outside.
“(The slow pace) helped play into our advantage,” War Campaign’s jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “It kind of kept everybody tightened up. There wasn’t a lot of space in between, so I felt like we were able to slow it down, keep everyone bottled up and try and sprint home.”
With 5-year-old War Campaign taking the inner path, Kingsbarns went a path wider into the stretch, and the two dug in for a head-to-head duel. Kingsbarns drifted out with Sáez’s left-handed urging, but he also opened up an advantage, finally winning by 3 1/4 lengths.
“The winner was just much the best today,” Gaffalione said.
After a mile in 1:38.26, Kingsbarns finished with a time of 1:57.74. War Campaign, who finished second last month in the Essex (G3) at Oaklawn, was second again Saturday. Allowance winner Archie the Giza (25-1), a 5-year-old gelding, rallied to finish another three lengths up the track in third for trainer Robbie Medina and jockey John Velázquez.
“Good trip,” Velázquez said. “I thought the winner was the horse to beat. I told Robbie we have to go out running and follow (Kingsbarns), and we would have a good chance, and that’s what we did.”
Time for Trouble (7-1), Dynamic One (7-1), Surly Furious (11-1), Smile Happy (9-2), Laughing Boy and Happy American (42-1) finished fourth through ninth in that order in the race named for 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali, which is pronounced ally.
Kingsbarns paid $5.36, $3.58 and $3.10; War Campaign $4.40 and $3.08; and Archie the Giza $6.54.
“The race set up for him pretty nice,” Sáez said of Kingsbarns. “He made it look pretty easy. Honestly, he was traveling very comfortable, very confident. The whole race I was pretty comfortable, because I know we have a lot of horse.”
With Pletcher watching from afar Saturday, what is next remains to be seen.
“No decision yet,” Toffey said. “We’ll see how he comes out of the race and discuss options with Todd.”
Momentum clearly is on the side of Kingsbarns, who nearly a year ago finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby. After a close second in the little Pegasus at Monmouth Park, he got his break. With two wins since, it seems to have worked out.
“He needed some time after his 3-year-old campaign. He got it,” Toffey said. “He has just done so well from 3 to 4, and hopefully he’s going to reward us with a big year.”