With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. biding his time in last place until rounding the final turn, Head of Plains Partners LLC's Sy Dog rallied in the stretch to win Friday's Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes by three-quarter of a length on chilly and wet opening day program of the spring meet at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Winning for the third time in as many starts while making his 2022 debut, the Graham Motion-trained colt by Slumber covered 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course in 1:45.38 and paid $13.40 for the win.
Grand Sonata, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard, was up late to finish second, just ahead of third-place finisher Coinage, who led into the stretch. He was followed by Napoleonic War, Verbal and Credibility in the field of six 3-year-olds.
Bred by his owner, Sy Dog was produced from the Scat Daddy mare My Love Venezuela.
Sy Dog won his debut on firm turf at Belmont Park by four lengths last October, then captured the Central Park Stakes second time out on Nov. 27. He trained at Payson Park in Indiantown, Fla., over the winter for his 3-year-old debut.
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