Peace Achieved Digs In to Win Bourbon Stakes

When Peace Achieved held on by a neck to take the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) Oct. 6 at Keeneland, trainer Mark Casse realized his fourth Bourbon victory in five years. 

The Bourbon, a "Win and You're In" challenge race for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, was run on a turf course rated firm despite on and off light rain Sunday. Casse expects the Declaration of War colt to appreciate firmer ground at Santa Anita.

"I've been pretty impressed by him. I thought his last few races were really good. He may not have liked that there was some give in the ground," Casse said. "I think he maybe struggled a little today, but the good news is I bet you it's going to be hard and fast at Santa Anita."

Peace Achieved broke his maiden third time out July 27 at Ellis Park while stretching to a mile for the first time, then he won the Aug. 31 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes at Kentucky Downs at the same distance.

In the Bourbon, he broke from post 10 of 14 under the guidance of Miguel Mena and sat just off the pace set by Field Pass. The leader set opening fractions of :23.20 and :47.60, with Peace Achieved only a head behind at the first quarter-mile and a half-length behind at the half-mile. Gear Jockey was settled in third and took over the lead to run three-quarters in 1:12.55.

The front three were jockeying for position in the stretch when 4-1 favorite Vitalogy rallied from last to throw himself into the mix. The finish was close, but Peace Achieved held off the late runner to complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.06. He paid $19.80 to win.

Video: Dixiana Bourbon S. (G3T)

"(Casse) mentioned the inside being a little softer than the outside, so we had a great post position," Mena said. "He came out of there running, and I just stayed a little wider for better ground. He was the best horse today—he's very nice."

Vitalogy was up for second, Gear Jockey held for third, and Field Pass was fourth.

Casse also won the Bourbon with Flameaway (2017), Keep Quiet (2016), and Airoforce  (2015).

Peace Achieved was bred in Kentucky by Rhinestone Bloodstock. He is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus  mare Sense of Class, who has a yearling Air Force Blue  colt, a Cupid  filly born in April, and was reported bred back to Mission Impazible .

"He came into our training center and I told (assistant) David (Carroll), 'I don't know if he can run, but this is one beautiful son of a gun,'" Casse recalled about Peace Achieved. "And he moves really good. He was pretty from the start."

JSM Equine purchased Peace Achieved for $160,000 from Four Star Sales' consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bay colt has made $480,844 for JSM with a 3-0-1 record in five starts.

Kimari Rushes Late to Take Indian Summer

A Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) berth was on the line at Keeneland in the $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes, and Kimari collected the honors with a last-to-first effort in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for juveniles.

Kimari was a 15-length winner on debut during Keeneland's spring meet on the main track. She then lost the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) by a head at Royal Ascot before returning stateside to win the Aug. 14 Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Race Course by four lengths. All those efforts came under jockey John Velazquez, and Mike Smith was aboard for the first time Sunday.

"This was a perfect race to set up for the Breeders' Cup being here at her home track at Keeneland, and she showed a new dimension in that she was able to sit back in case there was a big speed buildup," Ward said. "She looked like she rated beautiful, and Mike said that when he just eased her out, she was like an old horse—she just took off. She knew where the wire was.

"I give a lot of credit to Julio Garcia. He's been breezing her in the mornings. He's been with me essentially my whole career, riding only for me for about the last 10 years, and he's really gotten this filly to settle down mind-wise and come with a big run.

"Beyond the Breeders' Cup, I think she's going to have a big future on the dirt or turf. She can do either or. It's always nice to have a filly like this."

Kimari was bumped at the start and settled last of nine as Fast Scene set fractions of :21.74 and :45.22 through the first half-mile. She was still seventh as the field surged down the stretch and ate up ground to win by half a length. Kimari paid $4.20 after hitting the wire in 1:03.03 on firm turf.

Video: Indian Summer S. (BT)

Even after the slow start, Smith did not panic and settled his filly before driving at the end.

"A lot of it had to do with what Wesley told me. He told me although she's extremely fast, she breaks horrible every time," Smith said. "Being in the two hole, I thought, 'Wow, that could be bad.' But he said she'll be OK if that happens. 'Don't worry about it. Just ride her with confidence. I take my hat off to him. I did exactly what he told me to do. I rode her with a lot of confidence. When we came off the top of the turn, I just had to show her the stick a little, and she just took off."

Chimney Rock rallied from eighth to finish second. Axiomo was a steady third and Mystic Lancelot fourth.

China Horse Club bred Kimari in Kentucky out of the Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady, a grade 3 winner on dirt and twice grade 2-placed on turf. After Kimari, Cozze Up Lady produced an Exaggerator  colt and foaled a Quality Road  colt in April. She was bred back to Always Dreaming .

Kimari was a $152,000 purchase by Eaton Bloodstock from Bluewater Sales' 2018 consignment to The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Kentucky. She has earned $241,646 in her four starts for Ten Broeck Farm.

"The future is so bright for this filly," Ward said. "She's so sound right now, she has no issues at all, so we're heading into the big dance here with the bells on her so we're ready to go."