Airoforce Flies Home to Win Bourbon Stakes

John Oxley's Airoforce, off an easy debut maiden win at Kentucky Downs, rallied in the stretch to win the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes  (gr, IIIT) for 2-year-olds at Keeneland Oct. 4.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Mark Casse, Airoforce, a Colonel John   colt, sat just off the early pace set by longshot Argot, rallied three-wide off the final turn and held off the late run of Camelot Kitten, who was far back early, to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Siding Spring, another Casse trainee, finished another half-length back in third.

The final time for 1 1/16 miles on turf rated yielding was 1:44.12. Airoforce paid $12 to win in an evenly matched field of 14.

The Bourbon is a "Win And You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), which also will be held at Keeneland this year. When Casse was asked if Airforce would enter, Casse said: "We're in."

Airforce, bred in Kentucky by Stewart Madison, is out of the Cuvee mare Chocolate Pop. After his win at Kentucky Downs Sept. 5, he worked well twice on the dirt at Churchill Downs before the Bourbon.

"I was a little nervous going into the first turn," Casse said. "Actually both of our horses had pretty wide trips. Going in (the race) we thought (Airoforce) was a good horse, and I think he proved today he is."

The Casse stable won four races in the first three days of the Keeneland fall meet.

"I'm lucky," Casse said. "I work for a lot of wonderful people who've given us a lot of wonderful horses. Without the horses, you can't win the races. Coming in we thought we would be strong, but you can never predict this."

"It was a good race," Leparoux said. "Big step up from the maiden he won at Kentucky Downs. He's still a little green. When I got to the lead down the straight, he started looking around a bit. He's a nice horse. I think he should get better."