BBN Racing's Mo Stash earned his first graded stakes win in Friday's Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, taking the field of 3-year-olds gate-to-wire through 1 1/16 miles over the “good” turf in 1:43.05. The son of Mo Town, ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Vicki Oliver, held off top choice Nagirroc by three-quarters of a length at the wire. Mo Stash was sent to post at odds of 5-1, and paid $12.96 for the victory.
Mo Stash was second when sprinting over Keeneland's turf in the Indian Summer Stakes last fall, then stretched out to finish fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) over the same course. He then backed up to a mile on the turf in his sophomore debut when he finished second in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Saez cleverly nursed the colt's speed through Friday's Transylvania, doing just enough to establish an advantage into the clubhouse turn. Though the pair completed the first quarter in 23.69 seconds, Saez backed off the pace down the backstretch to mark the half-mile in :48.41. Though the co-top choice Nagirroc ranged up alongside Mo Stash around the far turn, Saez asked for more and Mo Stash was happy to deliver. The colt fought all the way through the wire to earn his first graded stakes win and second career victory, improving his overall record to 6-2-2-0 for earnings of over $160,000.
Bred in Kentucky by Rhineshire Farm, Mo Stash is out of the Smart Strike mare Making Mark Money. A half-brother to BBN and Oliver's 2021 Kentucky Derby starter Hidden Stash, Mo Stash commanded a final bid of $130,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
Nagirroc's second-place effort was his first start of 2023; the Graham Motion trainee had finished ahead of Mo Stash when third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Sent to post as the co-favorite at 7-2, Naggiroc (Lea) paid $4.84 to place.
Webslinger (9-2) closed from far back for trainer Wayne Catalano to catch third over 15-1 longshot Mi Hermano Ramon, trained by Mark Glatt.
One race earlier on the card, Corona Bolt ($6.82) gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux a one-length victory in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes. The Stonestreet-owned son of Bolt d'Oro ran seven furlongs over Keeneland's fast main track in 1:23.21. Hejazi checked in second while Freezing Point was third.
“I think he's meant to be a one-turn horse,” Cox said of Corona Bolt. “When you do that, you have to breeze them a little sharper, maybe not train them quite as much throughout the week. Overall I think he's found his thing around one turn. I'm not sure how far he wants to go. I want to congratulate (owner) Stonestreet (Stables). He's a very, very good colt. I'm thankful for the opportunity with him and I think he has a big future. We need to find some graded stakes for him and we're excited about what lies ahead.”
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