Keeneland: Utah Beach, Tennessee Lamb win Saturday stakes

Utah Beach collared Limited Liability at the sixteenth pole and then got the better of that duel to prevail by a head Saturday and win at 11-1 odds in the 40th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Elkhorn Stakes for older horses at Keeneland.

In the next race, Tennessee Lamb took top honors in the 94th running of the $350,000 Ben Ali (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.

Click here for Keeneland entries and results.

Bred and owned by Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable, trained by Nacho Correas and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, Utah Beach completed the 1 1/2 miles on a firm turf course in 2:29.78.

Idratherbeblessed took the lead out of the gate and raced through an opening quarter-mile in 24.25 seconds. By the time the field reached the finish line for the first time, Frankie Dettori sent Limited Liability past seven runners and into the lead after a half-mile in 50.09 seconds.

With Limited Liability controlling the pace, Utah Beach got a ground-saving trip from Cheminaud as he inched his way toward the front. At the top of the stretch, Utah Beach moved off the rail and went after Limited Liability. Utah Beach drew even at the sixteenth pole and finally pulled clear in deep stretch.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by English Channel out of Lasting Approval mare My Own Story, Utah Beach notched his first stakes victory. Now 14: 4-5-1 in his career, Utah Beach has earned $536,265 including Saturday’s $226,300 check.

Utah Beach returned $25.40, $10.16 and $6.86. Limited Liability returned $5.36 and $3.70 and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Anglophile, who paid $6.52 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Rebel Red. Verstappen, Grand Sonata, Ole Crazy Bone, favored Missed the Cut, Balnikhov, Idratherbeblessed, Dean Martini and Starting Over followed in that in order.

Tennessee Lamb fights back in Ben Ali

Calumet Farms homebred Tennessee Lamb made his stakes debut a memorable one. He battled back in the stretch to overtake Uno Mas Bourbon and then hold off San Siro by 1 1/2 lengths to win the Ben Ali.

Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by José Ortiz, Tennessee Lamb completed the 1 3/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:59.00.

With the victory, Arnold moved into a tie with Bill Mott for the most career wins at Keeneland with 307.

The Ben Ali triumph gave Calumet and Ortiz a second stakes victory in two days coming on the heels of Gin Gin’s score in the Doubledogdare (G3) at odds of 38-1.

Prince of Power led the field of seven through fractions of 23.40 and 47.70 seconds with Tennessee Lamb tracking in second. Going into the final turn, Ortiz sent Tennessee Lamb to the front with Uno Mas Bourbon moving right behind him.

Uno Mas Bourbon took over at the top of the stretch only to have Tennessee Lamb battle back to inside and regain the lead at the sixteenth pole and pull away.

Tennessee Lamb is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Tonalist out of Smart Strike mare Tennessee Whiskey. Now 11: 3-2-0 in his career, Tennessee Lamb picked up $211,575 for the victory to boost his earnings to $381,351.

Tennessee Lamb returned $9.74, $4.88 and $3.42. San Siro, ridden by Edgar Morales, returned $3.92 and $2.86 and finished a neck in front of Uno Mas Bourbon, who paid $3.22 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

It was another 3½ lengths back to Time for Trouble who was followed in order by Piroli, Prince of Power and Duke of Love.