Olorda Leads From Start to Finish in Bewitch
Olorda (GER) and jockey Julien Leparoux led their nine rivals from start to finish through 1½ miles on the Keeneland turf course to win the 55th running of the $150,000 Bewitch (G3) before 18,030 fans on closing day of the track’s 2016 Spring Meet.
Chad Brown trains Olorda, a 4-year-old daughter of Lord of England who races for Martin S. Schwartz. In 2005, Schwartz raced Angara (GB) to record his first victory in the Bewitch.
The Bewitch marked the second win of the day for Brown.
Olorda, the 3-1 second choice, took the lead out of the gate from the sixth post and set the pace in :24.86, :49.27, 1:14.64 and a mile in 1:39.97 with 21-1 longshot Annulment in closest pursuit while the other runners were as many as seven lengths behind them.
Racing around the final turn, Songoficeandfire and Al’s Gal began to move on the leader with Al’s Gal rallying in the stretch while racing three wide. Olorda was able to hold off Al’s Gal by a half-length. Her time for the race on firm turf was 2:30.09.
Favored Songoficeandfire was third and was followed in order by Annulment, Achnaha (IRE), Street of Gold, Generosidade (URU), Button Down (GB), Personal Diary and Return to Grace.
The victory was worth $90,000 to Olorda, who improved her record to four wins in 10 starts and earnings of $290,447. She began her 2016 campaign with a win in The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream Park on March 5 and is unbeaten in two races this year.
Last fall at Keeneland, Olorda was fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).
In winning the Bewitch, Olorda paid $8.60, $4.60 and $3.20. Al’s Gal, with Javier Castellano aboard, returned $7.40 and $4.20. Songoficeandfire, who was ridden by Jose Lezcano, paid $3.40 to show.
Racing returns to Keeneland on Oct. 7 with the start of the Fall Meet. The 17-day season runs through Oct. 29.
Source: Keeneland