Fire At Will Back at Keeneland for Transylvania Stakes

After a try on the dirt that didn't pan out, last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) winner Fire At Will  returns to some very familiar ground April 2 in the $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T).

Not only is Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will scheduled to return to turf in Friday's 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, the son of Declaration of War  will return to the Keeneland course where he posted a three-length score in the Juvenile Turf Nov. 6.

After his Breeders' Cup win, with the winter and spring season's lucrative dirt races for 3-year-olds ahead, trainer Mike Maker opted to give Fire At Will a try on dirt but he finished eighth after a rough trip in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park. Fire At Will won last year's off-the-turf edition of the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, but his biggest performances to date have been on turf as he won last year's Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park ahead of the Breeders' Cup.

Fire At Will returns to turf after bouncing out of his Fountain of Youth effort, turning in three works including an impressive five-furlong move in 1:00.17 March 20 at Gulfstream. That breeze was third-fastest of 47 at the distance.

Fire At Will is the lone graded stakes winner in the field, one of the featured races on opening day of the Keeneland spring meet.

Stuart Janney III's Scarlett Sky  looks poised for his graded stakes debut after a close runner-up finish to Annex  Feb. 27 in the Palm Beach Stakes on the Gulfstream turf. Scarlett Sky, a son of Sky Mesa  , split horses to emerge with the lead in deep stretch of the Palm Beach before getting nailed on the wire by Annex, who prevailed by a head. 

Video: Palm Beach S. (BT)

That effort was flattered when Annex came back to win his third race in as many starts, taking the Cutler Bay Stakes March 27 on the Gulfstream turf. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Scarlett Sky has a 2-3-0 record from six starts on turf.

The other four starters in the field are John Oxley's Palazzi , who opened the year with a close win in the Texas Turf Mile Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park; Eric Fein's Breadman , who earned a stakes placing on the main track when third against other New York-breds in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes Oct. 24 at Belmont; Bantry Farms' Barrister Tom , who last fall won the More Than Ready Juvenile Stakes at Kentucky Downs; and Anthony Fanticola's Earls Rock , who stretches out after winning the 6 1/2-furlong Baffle Stakes Feb. 5 on the Santa Anita Park turf.

Entries: Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. (G3T)

Keeneland, Friday, April 02, 2021, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $150,000
• 3 yo
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Scarlett Sky (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Claude R. McGaughey III	2/1
2	2Palazzi (KY)	Chris Landeros	120	Mark E. Casse	6/1
3	3Breadman (NY)	Luis Saez	118	John P. Terranova II	15/1
4	4Fire At Will (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Michael J. Maker	9/5
5	5Barrister Tom (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Michael Ann Ewing	12/1
6	6Earls Rock (IRE)	Florent Geroux	120	Philip D'Amato	2/1