Stubbins Wins Woodford Stakes in Upset
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Stubbins wins the Woodford Stakes at Keeneland
Stubbins broke last of nine in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 5, then came running outside the leaders in deep stretch to score his first victory since returning from Dubai.
The 3-year-old colt by Morning Line let the early speed go in the 5 1/2-furlong test. In the stretch, he found another gear and motored past Leinster in the final sixteenth to win by three-quarters of a length. The favorite, Imprimis, was third, another 1 1/2 lengths in arrears.
The top three finishers had their previous race at Kentucky Downs.
"The other ones went on," said winning rider Joel Rosario. "I knew he has late speed, so I didn't want to hurry him. When I called on him, he was there."
Stubbins, at odds of 7-1, paid $17.20 to win.
Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Leinster, said his mount did everything expected of him until the final strides.
"The other horse ran us down," he said. "My horse was in full flight, and (Stubbins) was finishing all the way to wire. He had a lot left."
Trained by Doug O'Neill and racing in the colors of McShane Racing, Stubbins broke his maiden Jan. 5 at Santa Anita Park in his first start on the turf. He won the next two at Santa Anita, including the off-the turf Pasadena Stakes by eight lengths, before being shipped to the Middle East.
He tracked the speed in the UAE Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) on World Cup night but could do no better than sixth behind winner Plus Que Parfait. He then finished third and sixth in two starts at Del Mar.
In his most recent outing, he was second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the Sept. 12 Nevada State Bank Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T). Rosario was aboard for the first time in the Kentucky Downs race and said the undulating, European-style track likely helped Stubbins.
"It's different," Rosario said of the southwestern Kentucky course. "It will get them fitter."
The Woodford was not a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In," but Stubbins is nominated to the program, and Rosario said the colt's performance could put him in the picture.
"He was strong in this race, and the course here today was very firm," the rider said. "That's like it would be in California," he added with a smile.
Imprimis' trainer, Joe Orseno, said the Breeders' Cup is the plan for his 5-year-old Broken Vow gelding. "If he's OK, then I think we should plan for it," he said. "He was running at the end."
Leinster, a 4-year-old Majestic Warrior colt, entered off a third-place finish in the Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T), fading slightly in the closing stages of the six-furlong contest. Before that effort, he won the Troy Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course, closing smartly at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Imprimis won the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) on the Keeneland green during the spring meeting, then finished a gallant sixth behind Blue Point and Battaash, two of the world's top turf sprinters, in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. He returned to finish fourth in the Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs.