Watershed Breaks Through in Ben Ali

Godolphin's Watershed finally broke through in graded stakes company when he won the $200,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) in a late drive over Eagle April 15 at Keeneland. 

Under jockey Paco Lopez, the 5-year-old son of Bernardini   raced mid-pack in the eight-horse field before eventually overcoming favored Bird Song with a late kick to score by 2 3/4 lengths over the rallying Eagle. The win was the third on Keeneland's Saturday card for Godolphin and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

"(Jockey) Paco (Lopez) rode a great race. It's always wonderful to win here in our hometown, Lexington, and at Keeneland. It's a great crowd, great people, and it's fun to win," McLaughlin said.

"We tried him on the turf, and last time he ran well, but we thought he was better on dirt," the trainer added of the Watershed's off-the-board finished in the March 4 Mac Diamara Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park. "We're happy everything worked out today."

In the 1 1/8-mile Ben Ali on a track rated fast, Conquest Enforcer broke strongly and secured the lead going into the first turn from Bird Song, who never let the frontrunner get too far away. Conquest Enforcer set fractions of :23.95, :47.17, and 1:11.67 for six furlongs before giving way.

Around the far turn, Bird Stone, under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., made his move and was followed by Watershed. Into the stretch, Bird Stone had a one-length advantage and looked to be a clear winner, but failed to hold on as Watershed and Eagle made late runs.

Watershed managed to pull away and score by 2 3/4 lengths at the wire, while a late-running Eagle nosed out Bird Stone for second. Blofeld was another neck back in fourth, while Conquest Enforcer, Scuba, Taketothestreets, and Frammento rounded out the field.

"Everything was perfect. He just wasn't good enough today," trainer Ian Wilkes said of Bird Stone. "I think he'll improve off this race immensely. I think he's learning, settling. He nearly held on for second. I'm very proud of him. These are good horses. We had a little pace pressure up front but that's not an excuse."

Watershed returned $12.20, $5.40, and $3.40 across the board. Eagle was worth $4.40 and $2.80, and Bird Song paid $2.60.

Bred by Darley out of the Dubai Millennium (GB) mare Thousand Island (GB), Watershed is a half brother to grade 1-placed Footbridge. He now has six wins from 14 starts, with earnings of $402,550. Last year he placed in two other grade/group 3 events, the Firebreak Stakes Sponsored By EGA at Meydan Racecourse and the Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park.