Last Full Measure Survives Objection in Madison

St. George Farm Racing’s Last Full Measure survived a claim of foul from runner-up Byrama (GB) to win the 12th running of the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares by a diminishing neck on Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

A five-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Slewvescent mare Lady Slusan, Last Full Measure is a Keeneland sales graduate.

Trained by Phil Oliver and ridden by Corey Nakatani, Last Full Measure covered seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.32. It was Oliver’s first Keeneland stakes victory.

Jamaican Smoke was fastest out of the gate and led the field of 10 through fractions of  :22.33 and :45.23 under Julien Leparoux. After putting away a trio of challengers at the head of the stretch, Jamaican Smoke spurted clear to open a daylight margin only to be passed at the sixteenth pole by Last Full Measure.

Joel Rosario, whose claim of foul for interference at the top of the stretch was disallowed by stewards, got Byrama rolling late and just failed to catch Last Full Measure.

The victory was worth $180,000 and improved Last Full Measure’s career earnings to $293,245 with a record of 11-4-1-3.

Last Full Measure returned $37.60, $15 and $8.40. Byrama returned $6.20 and $4 with Jamaican Smoke finishing 1 ¼ lengths back in third and paying $3.80 to show.

Drama Drama finished two lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Queen’s Award, Shumoos, Holiday for Kitten, Fantasy of Flight, Dr. Diamonds Prize and Kune Kune (GB).