O'Neill extends Kentucky stakes spree with Woodford winner Stubbins

California-based trainer Doug O’Neill, who in recent weeks has saddled a pair of graded stakes winners in Kentucky, added to his haul in Keeneland’s Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford Stakes.

A 3-year-old son of Morning Line, Stubbins got the right trip as a 7-1 shot — often the winning formula in these turf sprints — to upset runner-up Leinster (5-2) and third-place Imprimis (7-5).

Under jockey Joel Rosario, Stubbins closed from the rear of the field of nine behind an opening quarter mile in 21.18 seconds, far too quick for the longshot Satellite Storm to maintain.

The winning time was a stakes record 1:01.44.

"With good speed up front, he can run," Rosario said of Stubbins.

O’Neill’s two most-recent graded scores also came in the Bluegrass State with Legends of War winning Kentucky Downs’ Franklin-Simpson (G3) and Lazy Dazy taking Churchill Downs’ Pocahontas (G2).

Stubbins ran a close second in that Franklin Simpson and worked up to the Woodford at Keeneland. The McShane Racing colt returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since winning Santa Anita Park’s Pasadena Stakes back in March. From there, he traveled for the UAE Derby (G2), then tried allowance company and the La Jolla Handicap (G3) at Del Mar.

Overall, Stubbins is 4-2-2 in 10 starts.

"I was saving ground and then when I had some room was able to turn him loose," Rosario said of Saturday's effort.

The Woodford isn’t a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup, but the Nov. 2 Turf Sprint runs at O’Neill’s Santa Anita base.

As for beaten favorite Imprimis and a chance at the championship race, trainer Joe Orseno said, "I think we should plan for it. He was running at the end.”