Sy Dog Earns First Graded Stakes Win in Transylvania

Already facing the challenge of making his graded stakes debut off a more than four-month layoff, the connections of Sy Dog  were hoping to avoid the added hurdle of competing on soft turf for the first time in the $400,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) April 8 at Keeneland.

As the rain poured throughout the day Friday in Lexington, Alice Clapham, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, pleaded internally for it to stop. She did feel a little better though after taking a walk on the course, noting it had largely handled the downpour.

Sy Dog also would find the course—listed as good—to his liking. After racing last of six in the well-bunched field, the son of Slumber   rallied three wide in the far turn to gain position, passed Coinage  just past midstretch, and posted a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

"It's firmer today than I thought it was going to be," Clapham said. "I thought it might be really soft, but actually it's just getting a nice cut into it. It's actually not that bad. 

"The last couple of days I was kind of like, 'Ooohh, come on,'" Clapham said of the rainy weather. "They've done a great job to have it in this condition for the beginning of the meet."

With the victory in his season opener, Head of Plains Partners' Sy Dog improved to three wins in as many starts. He won a debut maiden race in October on the Belmont Park turf and prevailed by a nose in the Central Park Stakes in November on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf. He trained for Friday's race at Fair Hill Training Center.

Early in Friday's race, Credibility  and Coinage contested the lead through a half mile in :50.16. Verbal , favored at 2-1, started a wide move in the turn but couldn't sustain it, then Sy Dog delivered his five-wide winning rally.

"My horse was traveling perfect the whole race. At the three-eighths pole, I thought it was time to pick it up," jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. "I had (Grand Sonata) on the inside of me looking for some room, and I knew Tyler (Gaffalione, aboard Grand Sonata) had a lot of horse, so I decided to move a little early, take him out, and go from there.

 "He did everything I asked for. He was ready."

Clapham said they were comfortable training Sy Dog up to the Transylvania.

"He's definitely filled out over the winter," Clapham said. "The biggest thing is he's very laid back and that will help him with everything."

Sy Dog was followed home by a pair of grade 3 winners in runner-up Grand Sonata  and third-place Coinage.

A homebred for Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners and Madaket Stables, Sy Dog is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare My Love Venezuela, who has produced two winners from as many starters. My Love Venezuela set a course record in 2016 at Indiana Grand, completing one mile in 1:35.73.

Video: Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. (G3T)