Mo Stash takes Transylvania; Corona Bolt wins Lafayette
Stakes recap by Keeneland’s publicity staff (Keeneland photo above of Mo Stash, center with black shadow roll, and Luis Saez winning the Transylvania)
LEXINGTON, KY (April 7, 2023) – BBN 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.
Video: Owner Braxton Lynch, trainer Vicki Oliver on Mo Stash’s Transylvania win
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.
