Blue Grass undercard: Spiced Perfection, Bobby’s Wicked One, Imprimis star
Keeneland stakes recap, compiled by the track’s publicity staff:
LEXINGTON, KY (April 6, 2019) – Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch’s Spiced Perfection inched away from Amy’s Challenge in the final yards after a prolonged stretch duel to score a neck victory in the 18th running of the $300,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares, the first of four Grade 1 races during the 16-day Spring Meet.
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Also capturing graded stakes on the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) card were Bobby’s Wicked One in the $250,000 Commonwealth (G3) and Imprimis in the $200,000 Shakertown (G2).
Spiced Perfection edged Amy’s Challenge in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Madison. Coady Photography photos
Trained by Peter Miller and ridden by Javier Castellano, Spiced Perfection covered the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.49. The stakes victory is the first for Miller at Keeneland and the third in three days at the meet for Castellano.
Amy’s Challenge led the field through the first quarter-mile in :22.56 and a half in :45.53 with Spiced Perfection in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Spiced Perfection moved at the leader and the two began separating themselves from the field.
In the stretch, Spiced Perfection pushed by to take a brief lead only to have Amy’s Challenge battle back on the rail to regain a narrow advantage that she yielded only in the final yards.
It is the second Grade 1 victory for the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Smiling Tiger out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat. The victory was worth $180,000 and increased her earnings to $852,405.
Spiced Perfection returned $11, $4.60 and $3.20. Amy’s Challenge, ridden by Alex Canchari, returned $4 and $3.20 with Late Night Pow Wow finishing another 6¾ lengths back in third under Luis Saez and paying $2.80 to show.
America’s Tale finished another 1¾ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by favored Shamrock Rose, Divine Queen, Sultry and Create a Star, Sultry and Create a Star. Cathedral Reader did not finish.
Bobby’s Wicked One Scores Upset in Commonwealth
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Bobby’s Wicked One romped under Miguel Mena in Keeneland’s Commonwealth Stakes.
Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables’ Bobby’s Wicked One took the lead shortly out of the gate, repulsed a bid from defending champion Warrior’s Club at the head of the lane and coasted to a
1 1/4-length victory in winning the 33rd running of the $250,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Miguel Mena, Bobby’s Wicked One covered the 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.80. The victory was the first in the race for Stall, and it was Mena’s first stakes victory here since 2008.
A winner of his past two starts at Fair Grounds, Bobby’s Wicked One led the field of 12 through fractions of :22.88 and :46.30 while under light pressure from Richiesinthehouse. On the far turn, Warrior’s Club joined the top two and at the head of the lane reached even terms with the winner only to be turned back by Bobby’s Wicked One who took the inside route to the wire.
The victory was worth $150,000 and boosted Bobby’s Wicked One’s earnings to $318,080 with a record of 10-4-3-1. It was his first graded stakes victory.
Bobby’s Wicked One is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown out of the Ghostzapper mare Wicked Charm. He is a 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate.
Bobby’s Wicked One returned $28.20, $13.80 and $7.40. Warrior’s Club, ridden by Jon Court, paid $11.60 and $6.40 with Limousine Liberal finishing another half-length back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and returning $3.80 to show.
Recruiting Ready finished another length back in fourth and was followed in order by New York Central, Majestic Dunhill, Uno Mas Modelo, favored Uncontested, Still Having Fun, Supreme Aura, Richiesinthehouse and Runaway Ghost.
Imprimis Catches Bound for Nowhere Late to Win Shakertown
Imprimis took Keeneland’s Grade 2 Shakertown.
Breeze Easy’s Imprimis steadily wore down favored defending champion Bound for Nowhere to prevail by a neck and win the 23rd running of the $200,000 Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Joe Orseno and ridden by Paco Lopez, Imprimis covered the 5 ½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.33. The victory was the first for Orseno at Keeneland since Collect the Cash won the 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1).
Bay Muzik and Bound for Nowhere vied for the early lead and were soon joined by Latent Revenge through a first quarter-mile in :21.71 and the half in :44.61 as Imprimis raced in eighth after stumbling at the start.
On the far turn Lopez began picking off horses, while up front Bound for Nowhere had established a daylight advantage on the field. Imprimis slowly cut into the advantage and managed to pull clear in the final yards.
The victory, the seventh in nine starts with all coming on the grass, was worth $120,000 and increased his earnings to $382,338. Imprimis is a 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Broken Vow out of the Put It Back mare Shoppers Return with Saturday’s victory being his first graded-stakes score.
Sent off as the second choice, Imprimis returned $7.20, $3.80 and $3.40. Bound for Nowhere, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $3.40 and $3.20 with longshot Angaston finishing another 2¼ lengths back in third under Brian Hernandez Jr., and returning $10.60.
It was another head back to Chaos Theory, who was followed in order by Will Call, Square Shooter, Shakhimat, Jazzy Times, Disco Partner, Latent Revenge, Conquest Tsunami, Bay Muzik and Richard’s Boy.
