Trainer Rob Atras thought he had his first Keeneland stakes winner in Red, White and Blue Racing’s Neat at the finish of the Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select.

“I was watching on a TV monitor near the Paddock,” Atras said Saturday morning. “I thought he might have gotten his head down right at the wire, but I didn’t want to celebrate.

“It felt like 20 minutes. Before the numbers came up, the cameras were showing the 12 (Cugino) and then they showed the 4 (Neat). I thought, well at least I have a 50-50 chance.”

The photo did go Neat’s way, and he recorded his first graded stakes victory.

“He really showed up yesterday,” Atras said. “I never looked past this race beforehand. Now the ($600,000) American Turf (G2) is the next logical spot.”

The American Turf will be run May 4 at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said the American Turf for Cugino “is a possibility. We will see how he does.”

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig, Cugino emerged with the lead at midstretch only to be caught at the wire.

“I told (my son) Reeve that the last two stakes I’ve run here, I’ve gotten beat a nose,” McGaughey said, referring back to last fall when Talk of the Nation was edged in the Bryan Station (G3).