Watershed Earns Graded Stakes Status in Ben Ali

In the 87th running of the $200,000 Ben Ali (G3) for four-year-olds and up, Watershed surged past Bird Song at the sixteenth pole en route to a 2 3/4-length victory.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Paco Lopez, Watershed covered the 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:50.92. For Lopez, it was his first Keeneland stakes victory.

Conquest Enforcer led the field of eight through fractions of :23.95 and :47.17 but yielded the lead to Bird Song on the far turn. Bird Song kicked clear entering the stretch but could not fend off Watershed who drew clear in the final 100 yards.

Defending champion Eagle rallied from the rear of the field to take second by a nose over Bird Song.

The victory was worth $120,000 and raised Watershed’s bankroll to $402,550 with a record of 14-5-0-3. Now undefeated in two starts at Keeneland, Watershed collected his first graded stakes victory.

Watershed is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bernardini out of the Dubai Millennium (GB) mare Thousand Islands (GB).

Watershed rewarded his backers with payoffs of $12.20, $5.40 and $3.40. Eagle, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $4.40 and $2.80 with Bird Song paying $2.60 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

Blofeld finished another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Conquest Enforcer, Scuba, Taketothestreets and Frammento.

Source: Keeneland