Buy TicketsBBN Racing’s Mo Stash grabbed the lead out of the gate and never was headed to win by a length over favored Nagirroc in the 35th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds on Friday on opening day of the 15-day Keeneland Spring Meet.
In the race prior to the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania, Stonestreet Stables’ Corona Bolt won the 75th running of the $400,000 Lafayette for 3-year-olds.
In the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania, Mo Stash covered the 1 1/16 miles on the turf course rated as good in 1:43.05.
Mo Stash was ridden by Luis Saez and gave trainer Vicki Oliver her first Keeneland stakes victory.
Mo Stash led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.69, :48.41 and 1:13.84 with Dude N Colorado (GB) stalking in second and Nagirroc racing fourth while in the clear another couple of lengths back.
At the top of the stretch, Mo Stash put away Dude N Colorado and was immediately confronted by Nagirroc, who reached near even terms at the three-sixteenths pole but never could push past.
The victory was worth $229,400 and increased Mo Stash’s earnings to $392,275 with a record of 6-2-2-0. A Keeneland sales graduate, Mo Stash is a Kentucky-bred son of Mo Town out of the Smart Strike mare Making Mark Money.
Mo Stash returned $12.96, $6.70 and $4.82. Nagirroc, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $4.84 and $3.52 with Webslinger rallying for third, another length back under Javier Castellano, and paying $3.90 to show.
It was another length back to Mi Hermano Ramon with Andthewinneris, Candidate, Freedom Trail, Dude N Colorado, Wonderful Justice (GB), Movisitor and Rarified Flair following in order.
Corona Bolt wins Lafayette
In the Lafayette, Corona Bolt remained perfect in sprints by turning back favored Hejazi by a length after a stretch-long duel.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Corona Bolt covered the 7 furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.21.
Corona Bolt took the lead out of the gate and was quickly joined by Hurricane J to his outside and then Hejazi racing three wide through an opening quarter mile in :22.28.
Approaching the far turn, Hurricane J began to retreat, leaving Corona Bolt and Hejazi on even terms through a half-mile in :44.80. The two matched strides through the stretch until the sixteenth pole, when Corona Bolt began to ease away for his fourth sprint victory.
Corona Bolt, a Florida-bred son of Bolt d’ Oro out of the Quiet American mare Stormbeforethecalm, is a Keeneland sales graduate and now a winner of four of five career starts.
The victory was worth $181,350 and increased Corona Bolt’s earnings to $356,400.
Send off as the second choice, Corona Bolt returned $6.82, $3.52 and $2.90. Hejazi, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $2.88 and $2.64 and finished 2½ lengths in front of Freezing Point, who paid $7.16 to show under Gerardo Corrales.
It was another 4½ lengths back to Lugan Knight with Gulfport, Determinedly and Hurricane J following in order.