Inside the Trip: Donworth’s Lexington

Divining Rod won the Lexington Stakes but Donworth covered more distance. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Divining Rod became a graded stakes winner on Saturday landing the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. The effort was sublime, saving ground throughout and tipping outside late on the final turn, easily catching and passing Fame and Power and Graham Motion trainee Donworth.
It was the effort of second-time starter Donworth that caught the attention when reviewing the data. Breaking widest from gate seven, he was allowed to move up on the first turn with at least a three-wide trip, and the son of Tiznow was the first one asked to go after Fame and Power. At the end, Donworth finished second and covered the widest trip in the field, going 39 feet farther than Divining Rod and 32 feet more than Fame and Power.
That added distance suggests Donworth traveled, at most, about 4 ½ lengths more than Divining Rod. He was beaten by just three lengths. Also noteworthy is that Donworth averaged the fastest speed in the Lexington at 37.4 MPH while Divining Rod checked in next at 37.3 MPH.

Donworth’s stable companion, and reported trackwork partner, Miss Ella did manage to land the spoils in what was also her second lifetime start. The Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes was the spot and Miss Ella was a consummate professional despite the lack of race seasoning, rolling to a 2 ½ length score. She covered the second-widest trip in the field, going 22 feet more than second-placed Divine Dawn.

Lady Eli, last year’s winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf started her three-year-old season with a handy tally in the Appalachian Stakes. Tracking the leader, and Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up, Sunset Glow from the two path, Lady Eli overtook her rival with ease before being geared down to a 2 ½ length victory. She covered more ground than the next four horses and still managed to make the win look easy, completing the final quarter in 23.00 seconds, while Miss Temple City rallied home for second in 23.17, and Sunset Glow faded to third in 23.52.

Santa Anita
With a quarter of a mile left in the Kona Gold Stakes, Sahara Sky was some seven lengths behind the leader and looking at the entire field. The seven-year old Jerry Hollendorfer trainee demonstrated a monstrous turn of foot to close for third, just a length behind winner Masochistic. His final quarter of 23.46 seconds was almost a full second quicker than the winner’s time of 24.32 seconds, as well as second placed San Onofre’s 24.38. While Masochistic covered plenty of ground for his first graded stakes tally, Sahara Sky swung four wide in the final turn and covered 20 feet, or about 2 ¼ lengths, more than San Onofre, missing second by a neck.

Beholder returned to the races with an easy victory in the listed Santa Lucia Stakes at Santa Anita on Friday. The bay mare drew away to a 3 ¾ length win, geared down by Gary Stevens. Tracking the leader in the two-path before making her move on the far turn, Beholder covered 28 feet, about 3 ¼ lengths, more than graded stakes placed Uzziel in second. Her final quarter of 24.53 seconds was 0.66 seconds quicker than Uzziel’s, and 0.75 seconds quicker than Oscar Party in third.

Mackenzie Kirker-Head contributed to this report.