Keeneland undercard: Alva Starr narrowly wins Grade 1 Madison

Alva Starr turned the tables on Vahva as she held on for a half-length victory in the 23rd running of the Grade 1, $591,050 Madison Stakes for fillies and mares, one of five graded stakes on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Also posting graded stakes victories Saturday were Buchu in the $386,888 Appalachian (G2), Arzak in the $337,969 Shakertown (G2) and Bo Cruz in the $294,500 Commonwealth (G3).

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Owned by Dale Ladner, trained by Brett Brinkman and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Alva Starr covered the seven furlongs in the Resolute Racing Madison in 1:23.36 over a fast main track.

Five and a half months ago in the Raven Run (G2), Vahva overtook Alva Starr in deep stretch to win by a half-length. The roles were reversed Saturday.

Red Carpet Ready led the field through fractions of 21.98 and 45.01 seconds as Alva Starr raced in fourth in the clear while Vahva had a ground-saving trip behind the leading quartet.

On the far turn Alva Starr cruised up on the leaders and took over from Red Carpet Ready entering the stretch. Alva Starr put Red Carpet Ready away at the eighth pole and then fended off the late charge from Vahva.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Lord Nelson out of the Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar, Alva Starr improved her record to 8: 5-3-0 that includes an 8 3/4-length victory in the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga in September. Saturday’s victory was worth $358,050 and improved her earnings to $778,450.

Alva Starr returned $6.32, $3.90 and $2.84. Vahva, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $3.66 and $2.88 and finished 4 1/2 lengths in front of Red Carpet Ready, who paid $3.34 to show under Luis Saez. It was another length back to Sterling Silver, who was followed in order by Maryquitecontrary, Hot and Sultry, Big Pond and Icicles.

Buchu holds on in Appalachian

Rigney Racing’s homebred Buchu rocketed past the field at the eighth pole and then held on for a half-length victory over Mo Fox Givin in the Appalachian for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Phil Bauer and ridden by Martin Garcia, Buchu completed the mile on a turf course rated good in 1:36.36. It is the second Grade 2 victory at Keeneland in six months for Buchu, Bauer and Garcia, who teamed to win the Jessamine.

Poolside With Slim led the field of 12 through fractions of 22.88, 47.25 and 1:12.37 with Dozen Diamonds and Pounce in closest pursuit and Buchu racing in seventh. On the far turn Buchu began picking off horses and then swung five wide into the stretch for clear running.

Buchu opened up passing the eighth pole and held off the late charge from Mo Fox Givin and Dancing N Dixie, who finished another neck back in third.

Buchu is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Justify out of the Galileo mare Flowering Peach. Making her first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in November, Buchu improved her record to 7: 3-0-2 and increased her earnings to $541,255 with Saturday’s $226,300 check.

Buchu returned $15.04, $7.30 and $7.28. Mo Fox Given, ridden by Junior Alvarado, returned $40.38 and $17.84. Dancing N Dixie, under Jose Ortiz, paid $7.60 to show. It was another three lengths back to Simply in Front, who was followed in order by Poolside With Slim, Austere, Living Magic, Grecian Goddess, Kairyu, Crown Imperial, Pounce and Dozen Diamonds.

Arzak proves best in Shakertown

Sonata Stable’s Arzak returned to the scene of his biggest triumph and delivered an encore performance in posting a one-length victory over Mischief Magic in the Shakertown for 3-year-olds and up.

Trained by Michael Trombetta and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Arzak completed the 5 1/2 furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:02.93.

Yes I Am Free rocketed to the lead from the outside post and led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.61 seconds as Arzak tracked just behind the leading pack.

On the far turn Ortiz began closing in and swung into the stretch four wide for a clear run. Arzak hit the front at the eighth pole and had enough left to hold off the late bid from Mischief Magic, winner of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland.

Winner of the Woodford (G2) at Keeneland last fall, Arzak is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody. Arzak became the fourth horse to win the Woodford in the fall and come back the next spring to win the Shakertown. The other horses to complete the Woodford-Shakertown double were Golden Pal in 2021 and 2022, Silver Timber in 2009 and 2010 and Morluc in 2001 and 2002.

Arzak improved his record to 25: 8-3-1 and boosted his earnings to $824,019 with Saturday’s $198,013 check. He returned $9.24, $4.56 and $3.86. Mischief Magic, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $4.40 and $3.08 and finished a head in front of Eamonn, who paid $7.48 to show under Paco Lopez.

It was another neck back to Our Shot, who was followed in order by Bad Beat Brian, Panther Island, Let My People Go, Yes I Am Free, Coppola, Beer Can Man, Sosua Summer and Front Run the Fed.

Bo Cruz cruises in Commonwealth

Bo Cruz, swept past pace-setting Richiesonaroll at the top of the stretch and drew off to a 2 1/2-length victory over Minnesota Ready in the Commonwealth for 4-year-olds and up.

Owned by Roger Cettina, Brian Pagano, Patrick Grippo, Peter Martine and Bruno De Julio, trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Bo Cruz completed the seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:22.94. It was the second Commonwealth victory for Stall, who won the race in 2019 with Bobby’s Wicked One.

Richiesonaroll led the field of seven through fractions of 22.90 and 46.32 seconds with Bo Cruz just to his outside. Bo Cruz reached level terms on the turn and then took charge entering the stretch and was not threatened through the lane.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Bo Cruz is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Creative Cause out of the Ghostzapper mare Quick Breeze. In posting his first graded-stakes victory, Bo Cruz improved his record to 7: 3-1-2 and increased his earnings to $340,550 with Saturday’s $181,350 check.

Bo Cruz returned $14.12, $5.60 and $3.68. Minnesota Ready, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.90 and $2.80 and finished two lengths in front of favored Wico, who paid $2.76 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr. It was another neck back to Call Me Fast with Raise Cain, Richiesonaroll and Frat Pack following in order.