Twenty Carat, Scarlett Sky, Chasing Artie Win Opening-Day Keeneland Stakes

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Twenty Carat swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and had plenty left in the tank to hold off even-money favorite Slumber Party by 1½ lengths to win the 36th running of the $150,000 Beaumont (G3) for 3-year-old fillies Friday to highlight opening day of the 15-day Keeneland Spring Meet that runs through April 23 in Lexington, Ky.

Also capturing stakes Friday afternoon were Stuart Janney III's homebred Scarlett Sky in the 33rd running of the $150,000 Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds and Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Chasing Artie in the second running of the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds.

In the Beaumont, Twenty Carat, trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Luis Saez, covered the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet in 1:26.04. The victory was the second in the race for Ward, who saddled Gypsy Robin to win in 2012, and Saez, who won in 2019 on Fancy Dress Party.

Twenty Carat also picked up her first 10 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but is not nominated to the race.

My Girl Red led the field of seven through fractions of :22.18 and :44.79 with Farsighted and Twenty Carat in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Twenty Carat made a three-wide move and surged to the front at the head of the lane, quickly opened a daylight advantage and was never threatened in the run to the finish.

The victory was worth $90,000 and increased Twenty Carat's earnings to $115,600 with a record of 3-2-1-0. Twenty Carat is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Bernardini mare Secret Jewel.

Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) wins the Beaumont Stakes

Twenty Carat returned $9, $4 and $3. Slumber Party, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $3 and $2.40 and finished 1½ lengths ahead of Amalfi Princess, who paid $3.60 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

Lady Traveler finished fourth and was followed in order by Farsighted, Cilla and My Girl Red.

Scarlett Sky rallies to win Kentucky Utilities Transylvania
In the Transylvania, Scarlett Sky rallied from last in the field of six at the top of the stretch to overhaul even-money favorite Fire At Will and longshot Palazzi in deep stretch to win by a half-length and post his first stakes victory.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Joel Rosario, Scarlett Sky covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:43.89. It is the second victory in the race for McGaughey who won in 2011 with Air Support.

Fire At Will, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland, shot right to the front under Tyler Gaffalione and maintained a clear advantage through fractions of :24.63, :49.83 and 1:14.32 as Scarlett Sky raced at the rear of the field.

In the stretch, Fire At Will turned back a bid from Barrister Tom at the eighth pole and was clear at the sixteenth pole only to have Palazzi and then Scarlett Sky blow past in deep stretch.

Scarlett Sky wins the Transylvania

The victory was worth $90,000 and improved Scarlett Sky's earnings to $210,400 with a record of 7-3-3-0. Scarlett Sky is a Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa out of the Arch mare Mata Mua.

Sent off as the third choice, Scarlett Sky returned $7, $3.60 and $2.40. Palazzi, ridden by Chris Landeros, returned $7.20 and $3 and finished a half-length in front of Fire At Will who paid $2.20 to show.

Barrister Tom was another 1¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Earls Rock (IRE) and Breadman.

Chasing Art takes Palisades Turf Sprint
In the Palisades Turf Sprint, Joel Rosario rallied Chasing Artie from last place at the top of the stretch in the field of nine to overhaul Fauci inside the sixteenth pole to win by 1¾ lengths.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who also conditions Fauci, Chasing Artie covered the 5½ furlongs on a “good” turf course in 1:03.46. The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Chasing Artie's earnings to $87,000 with a record of 4-2-1-0.

Longshot Lock Up led the field through an opening quarter in :21.76 with Bodenheimer and Unitedandresolute in closest pursuit and Chasing Artie far back. The leaders remained unchanged until the upper stretch where Fauci waited to split horses before taking over at midstretch only to be caught and passed by Chasing Artie.

Chasing Artie wins the Palisades Turf Sprint

Chasing Artie is a Kentucky-bred son of We Miss Artie out of the Kitten's Joy mare Frisky Kitten.

Chasing Artie returned $10.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Fauci, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.20 and $2.60 as the favorite with Unitedandresolute finishing another 2 lengths back in third and paying $5.60 to show under James Graham.

Blameworthy finished fourth and was followed in order by Lookin for Loki, Bodenheimer, J C's Champ, Lock Up and Smokin' Jay.

Racing continues Saturday with a blockbuster 11-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. The card features six graded stakes headlined by the $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2), a major prep for the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 1, and the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) a key steppingstone to the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30.

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Santa Anita Derby Win Would Put Baffert In Tie With Lukas For Most North American Grade 1 Victories

History lies in wait for Bob Baffert should he win Saturday's Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, the West Coast's major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

A victory by either favorite Medina Spirit or longshot Defunded, a recent maiden sprint winner, would add to the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer's record of nine Santa Anita Derby victories that started with California-bred Cavonnier in 1996 and culminating thus far with Roadster in 2019.

A win would also give Baffert his 219th Grade 1 stakes triumph, tying him with fellow Hall of Fame member D. Wayne Lukas for most Grade 1 victories in the United States and Canada since Jan. 1, 1976, through March 26, 2021.

The winning horse will earn 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, second through fourth 40, 20 and 10, respectively.

Baffert and Medina Spirit's owner, Amr Zedan, obviously have a vested interest in the race, as does private clocker Gary Young, the bloodstock agent who recommended Zedan buy the son of Protonico for the bargain price of $35,000.

To date the colt has earned nearly five times that amount and a victory in Saturday's $750,000 race, offering $450,000 to the winner, would be worth almost 13 times his purchase price.

Young is just back from the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he purchased a first-crop Gun Runner colt for Zedan at $1.7 million, the sale's second-highest price.

A clocker since he was 18 and an agent for more than 30 years, the 59-year-old Young acknowledges Medina Spirit is likely to face speed both inside and outside from his No. seven post position in a field of 10 going a mile and an eighth, including from John Shirreffs trainee Parnelli who adds blinkers, drew post position four and has noted speed rider Edwin Maldonado aboard for the first time, surefire indicators the horse will not be taken back early.

“We wanted our horse to have a target,” Young said. “He's trained really well since his last race (second by eight lengths behind undefeated but sidelined stablemate Life Is Good in the San Felipe Stakes March 6).

“In many ways it might look like he was a well-beaten second but when you consider he entrapped in that race … we're not saying he would have beaten Life Is Good, but I think it was a pretty gallant effort to run second under those conditions.”

It was discovered after the San Felipe that Medina Spirit had suffered a slightly entrapped epiglottis, necessitating minor throat surgery. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, an entrapped epiglottis is “a condition in which the thin membrane lying below the epiglottis moves up and covers the epiglottis. The abnormality may obstruct breathing.”

Added Young: “We respect the competition, but if he's getting his air better this time, it's got to be a plus.

“I think I speak for Bob and Mr. Zedan when I say he's going to be pretty tough in this race.”

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby is race eight of 12 with a 12 noon first post time. It will be broadcast live on NBCSN, with approximate post time 4:15 p.m. Pacific.

The local weather forecast is ideal, sunny skies with a high of 82 degrees.

The field for the 84th running of the race: Roman Centurian, Juan Hernandez, 8-1; Dream Shake, Flavien Prat, 7-2; Rock Your World, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Parnelli, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1; Back Ring Luck, Tyler Baze, 20-1; Ottothelegend, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Medina Spirit, John Velazquez, 5-2; Law Professor, Kent Desormeaux, 10-1; The Great One, Abel Cedillo, 8-1; and Defunded, Mike Smith, 8-1.

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby headlines six stakes on Saturday, four of them graded and two showcasing California-bred or sired runners.

Purses on Saturday's blockbuster program total $2,196,000, the six stakes alone offering a combined $1,750,000.

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Edgard Zayas Off To Fast Start At Gulfstream’s Spring/Summer Meet

Defending two-time champion Edgard Zayas has gotten off to a quick start for the Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park, riding five winners on the first two programs.

The 27-year-old jockey, who rode a personal-best 74 winners during the recently concluded Championship Meet, made three visits to the winner's circle Friday after notching a double on Thursday's opening-day card.

“I had my best meet of my career in the Championship Meet. I'm hoping I can keep it going for the Spring/Summer Meet,” said Zayas, who also captured the 2020 title at Gulfstream Park West.

The Puerto Rico native, who rode his first career race at Gulfstream in 2013, has ridden 1755 winners while based in South Florida.

“I love Florida. Everyone asks me why I don't go somewhere else. I feel so comfortable here. It feels like home to me. I can stay here year-round. It's great for the family,” the father of two said. “But, next year, if things keep getting better, I could go somewhere else.”

Zayas scored back-to-back aboard Swirling Candy ($4.60) in Race 1 and Systematic ($2.60) in Race 2 before winning aboard Pearlescent ($9.40) in Race 6

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Scarlett Sky Overcomes Slow Pace in Transylvania

Stuart Janney III's SCARLETT SKY (c, 3, Sky Mesa–Mata Mua, by Arch) looked to have it all to do in Friday's GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland, as he lingered in last of six behind a glacial pace. But, steered out widest into the stretch, he motored down the center of the course and was along late to post an ultimately cozy victory over Palazzi (Pioneerof the Nile), who hit the lead inside the final sixteenth, only to be run over in the final strides. GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Fire At Will (Declaration of War) enjoyed a very soft time of things on the engine, but could not take advantage of the slow pace he set and could do no better than third. It was the second win in the race for Janney and trainer Shug McGaughey, who teamed to win the 2011 renewal with Janney homebred Air Support (Smart Strike). Scarlett Sky was most recently narrowly beaten into second by 'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution) in the Feb. 27 Palm Beach S. at Gulfstream Park. Lifetime Record: 7-3-3-0. O/B-Stuart S Janney III (KY); T-Shug McGaughey.

Friday, Keeneland Race Course
KENTUCKY UTILITIES TRANSYLVANIA S.-GIII, $150,000, Keeneland, 4-2, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.89, gd.
1–SCARLETT SKY, 118, c, 3, by Sky Mesa
                1st Dam: Mata Mua, by Arch
                2nd Dam: Impressionism, by Broad Brush
                3rd Dam: Sky Blue Pink, by Strawberry Road (Aus)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Stuart
Janney, III LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Joel
Rosario. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-3-0, $210,400.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. 
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Palazzi, 120, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Kindle, by Indian
Charlie. ($375,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $510,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG).
O-John C. Oxley; B-HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC & Pioneerof
the Nile Syndicate (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Fire At Will, 123, c, 3, Declaration of War–Flirt, by Kitten's
Joy. ($97,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Three Diamonds Farm; B-Troy
Rankin (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $15,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 10.70, 1.10.
Also Ran: Barrister Tom, Earls Rock (Ire), Breadman.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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