Legends of War Tops Field in Franklin-Simpson Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Legends of War returns from his score in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs
After a quiet first four days of the Kentucky Downs meet, two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill waited until closing day and the meet's final stakes race to announce his stable's presence. And did he ever.
O'Neill-trained runners Legends of War and Stubbins finished 1-2 in the $497,500 Nevada State Bank Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T) Sept. 12, generating a handsome reward for his stable and those who backed his runners. At odds of 23-1, longshot Legends of War paid $49.40 for a $2 win ticket, and a $1 exacta with 10-1 Stubbins delivered a $218 return.
Although Legends of War utilized off-the-pace tactics in winning his previous start, an allowance at Del Mar, he was actively involved from the start in the Franklin-Simpson. He broke well under Rafael Bejarano, shot to the lead getting a quarter-mile in :23.44 and a half-mile in :47.37, and left 11 rivals behind in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Stubbins rallied from midpack, pulling two lengths clear of third-place Uncapped while no threat to the winner. Uncapped edged by a head even-money favorite Archidust, who settled for fourth.
Large payoffs extended beyond the O'Neill pair. With Uncapped overlooked at 85-1, the 50-cent trifecta paid $2,341.35, and the 10-cent superfecta that included the public choice returned $9,570.90.
"This horse was definitely ready today," Bejarano said. "He looked pretty sharp in the post parade, like he wanted to run. I knew there were a couple of horses who had more speed than I. But all day, speed was holding, so I said, 'I'm going to put him in the race.'"
A 3-year-old son of Scat Daddy, Legends of War won his fourth race from 13 starts, his first stakes, and his first race at Kentucky Downs. He raced in Europe last year and debuted in the U. S. at Churchill Downs with a third-place finish in the William Walker Stakes.
O'Neill believes it is now apparent Legends of War wants to sprint.
"I probably made an error by stretching him out twice," he said. "Tried him a mile, get to know him more. He's a one-turn specialist. Put a line through those two races. His previous wins were very solid. Raffy rode him with so much confidence."
Legends of War now has earnings of $470,740 for owners CTR Stables, Qatar Racing, and Steven Keh.
O'Neill said he was also pleased with the effort from Stubbins.
"I feel bad for Kelly and Jack McShane of McShane Racing," he said of the colt's owners. "They're great people, there today. He ran a winning race, he ran a dynamite race, and Legends of War had his own way on the front end. Very proud of how Stubbins ran and how (jockey) Joel Rosario rode him."
Not faring as well over the undulating European-style Kentucky Downs course was Archidust, who lost for the first time in three grass starts.
"He didn't like the track at all," said his Hall of Fame rider, Javier Castellano. "You can see at the top of the stretch, he bobbled like four or five times. I tried to hold him together, tried to let him get his rhythm. Every time he got his rhythm and momentum, he stumbled really bad. You can see out of the gate, he stumbled. He didn't like it."