Keeneland roundup: Positano Sunset (14-1) upsets Madison

Positano Sunset, the second-longest shot on the board, forced her way between horses racing four abreast in the deep stretch and pulled off a 14-1 upset Tuesday in the Grade 1, $650,000 Madison Stakes, a seven-furlong race for older fillies and mares at Keeneland.

After Julien Leparoux had her near the back of a tightly bunched first five, Positano Sunset wheeled into the stretch and bumped her way through a three-wide gap and an on to a one-length victory.

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Emery, the even-money favorite who was on or near the early pace, finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place My Mane Squeeze (7-1) with Mystic Lake (5-2) another three-quarters of a length behind in fourth.

The winning time was 1:23.69 after early splits of 22.68, 45.65 and 1:10.34 on the fast main track.

Positano Sunset paid $30.62, $7.68 and $3.44. Emery returned $3.12 and $2.24. My Mane Squeeze paid $3.48 to show.

Trained by Ian Wilkes for breeder-owners Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall, Positano Sunset is a 5-year-old Goldencents mare who won last out going seven furlongs in a $50,000 handicap March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. She had been 6: 0-1-0 in her previous graded-stakes starts.

The race was watered down by the scratch of Scylla, the 8-5 morning-line favorite who spiked a fever Monday, according to Daily Racing Form.

Nitrogen, Vixen give Casse exacta in Appalachian

Nitrogen came on in the stretch to win the Appalachian (G2), the third straight win for the Medaglia d’Oro filly trained by Mark Casse after she won the Florida Oaks (G2) in her prior start.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Nitrogen was in fifth place in the backstretch of the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies as Fast Market took the early lead and held it to the top of the stretch. Then Nitrogen and stablemate Vixen took over to take the top two spots, with Nitrogen a half-length ahead of Vixen and then another four lengths back to Deloraine in third.

Nitrogen was 2-1 on the morning line and went off as the 6-5 favorite, paying $4.40 to win. Vixen, ridden by Irad Ortiz, was the second choice at 3-1 on the morning line and 2-1 at the start. The first quarter-mile went in 23.31 seconds, the half in 47.45 and the final time was 1:37.00.

Nitrogen and Vixen gave owner D.J. Stable the exacta along with Casse, who won the Appalachian for the fourth time.

Think Big pays big in Shakertown surprise

After stalking in fourth on the backstretch, Godolphin homebred gelding Think Big closed late down the middle of the turf course, pulling off a 10-1 upset in the $400,000 Shakertown (G2), a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

Ridden by Ben Curtis for trainer Michael Stidham, the 4-year-old by Twirling Candy won by a half-length over Rogue Lightning (7-2). Eamonn (25-1) finished third and Our Shot (7-1) fourth.

The winning time on the good-rated grass was 1:04.21 following early fractions of 22.24, 45.48 and 57.67 seconds.

Think Big paid $22.14, $10.06 and $6.84; Rogue Lightning $5.86 and $4.32; and Eamonn $8.44.

Extra Anejo comes through in Commonwealth

Extra Anejo, making his first start since September, came on late to win the Commonwealth (G3) for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Favorite Montalcino took the lead in the seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up, with Epic Ride in second and Hoist the Gold in third up the stretch. Montalcino held the lead at the top of the stretch as Hoist the Gold moved into second. Then Extra Anejo, who was in sixth place on the turn, came up the outside in the stretch and passed others to win by a half-length with Flavien Prat in the irons.

The first quarter-mile went in 21.83 seconds and the first half-mile in 44.48 seconds, with a final time of 1:23.63. Montelcino finished second, and Hoist the Gold was third.

The race was delayed by difficulty at the gate. With most of the other horses loaded, Nutella Fella apparently had an equipment problem, had his equipment replaced, then reared when he was being loaded. All horses were brought out of the gate, and Whatchalkinabout was scratched after being injured in the gate. He was 4-1 on the morning line.