Webslinger, owned by Leonard Green's D. J. Stable, showed his 22-1 longshot victory in the $500,000 American Turf (G2) on the Kentucky Derby card May 6 was no fluke as he rolled to a 1 ¼-length win over Mendelssohns March as the odds-on 3-5 favorite in the $225,000 Audubon Stakes (Listed) Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Webslinger, ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Mark Casse, ran 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:49.87.
“I thought Javier gave him a beautiful trip in this race that was very paceless,” said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “He's a horse that each time you run him he seems to get better. He's proven that in his last couple of efforts, but today's race was a bittersweet one. Lois Green, who was the matriarch of the owner's family, died earlier this week. She was a wonderful woman and our heart goes out to the entire Green family during this time. Hopefully, this win was able to give them a little bit of happiness during a difficult week for their family.”
Breaking from the outside in the field of seven 3-year-olds, Webslinger relaxed in fourth and in the clear behind Lazarus, who set the pace through fractions of :24.34 and :49.04. Around the far turn, Mendelssohns March was the first to challenge the leader as he slipped through an opening along the rail after six furlongs in 1:13.78. Soon thereafter, Webslinger made a four-wide move leaving the turn and swept to the front at the head of the stretch. He kicked on nicely down the lane for his second straight stakes win over the Matt Winn Turf Course.
“There wasn't a whole lot of speed in the race but he was traveling nicely throughout,” Castellano said. “He put himself in a good position turning for him and was able to dig in late. He's a very consistent horse and always seems to run well each time.”
The $136,520 first prize increased Webslinger's earnings to $860,320 from a record of 4-2-1 in 9 starts.
Webslinger paid $3.42 for the win. Mendelssohns March, with Brian Hernandez Jr. up and off at odds of 4-1, outfinished Desert Duke, who was a half-length back in third under Mitch Murrill.
Scoobie Quando, Sharar, J.P. Race, and Lazarus completed the order of finish.
Webslinger, a gelded son of Constitution out of the Hard Spun mare Arana, was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
The Audubon is named after the historic Louisville neighborhood, which was named after after naturalist and famed bird artist John James Audubon. The neighborhood is near Churchill Downs.
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