Jay Em Ess Stable's Miles Ahead finished in front of pacesetter Isolate and closer Necker Island to prevail by the slimmest of margins in a three-horse photo in Saturday's $265,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs.
Miles Ahead ran six furlongs in 1:09.02 under jockey Martin Garcia, who piloted the winner for trainer Paul McGee and owner Samantha Siegel.
Isolate was a tough-luck runner-up as he made all of the running early on. He led the field of eight older horses through fast fractions of :21.34 and :44.15 as Miles Ahead tracked from fourth and relaxed from sixth.
Miles Ahead was urged throughout but was able to sustain his grinding charge. After attempting a bid along the inside, he altered his course to the outside of Isolate as they approached the sixteenth pole and surged in the final yards to prevail in a tight three-way head bob.
“The more I asked of him late the more he found,” Garcia said. “The race set up really well for us and in deep stretch (Isolate) kind of came in front of us but I was able to draw alongside and he dug in to hold him off.”
Miles Ahead won for the 12th time in 25 starts and the $165,315 payday jumped the Kentucky-bred's career earnings to $644,503. It was his third career stakes win and first outside of Gulfstream Park. A year ago, he won the Smile Sprint (G3). In February, he defeated Drain the Clock by a neck to win the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint. Previously, Miles Ahead finished a hard-luck second in the July 2 Kelly's Landing at Churchill Downs.
“We gave him a break after the Kelly's Landing and aimed for this spot all summer,” McGee said of the 5-year-old son of Competitive Edge out of the Awesome Again mare Jennie R.. “He was training well coming into this race and fired a big effort off the break.”
Miles Ahead, who was bred in Kentucky by Nicholas M. Lotz and Betsy Kelley, paid $7.46 as the 5-2 third betting choice. Isolate, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Joel Rosario, finished a nose to the good of Necker Island with Francisco Arrieta in the saddle.
After the noses, it was another 1 ¾ lengths back to Manny Wah in fourth, who was followed by Top Gunner, Baytown Bear, Robo Man, and A C Expressway.
The race is named for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, which opened for regular hours of operation in March 2021. The Louisville Thoroughbred Society is Louisville's only on-site wagering by Churchill Downs in the heart of Louisville's metropolitan scene. The premier club for Thoroughbred enthusiasts is open for private membership applications, and reservations for special events are being accepted. For more information, visit www.thelouisvillethoroughbredsociety.com.
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