Keystoneforvictory Takes Stars and Stripes

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Keystoneforvictory passed The Pizza Man late and went on to post a mild upset in the $100,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes (G3T) at Arlington International Racecourse July 8. 

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Mike Maker, the 4-year-old colt by Shakespeare was settled into mid-pack as Mongol G, who bumped with Belomor at the outset, took the early lead. It wasn't long before Belomor assumed command, opening up an eight-length advantage over the rest of the field in the 1 1/2-mile turf test after getting a mile in 1:38.93 and still lead by five lengths with 1 1/4 miles completed.

The Pizza Man, the 2014 and '15 Stars and Stripes winner who also took the 2015 Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes (G1T), was well rated off the pace, and took a brief lead after going three wide entering the stretch. Keystoneforvictory, meanwhile, was set down for a sustained bid, passing the 8-year-old gelding en route to a 1 1/2-length triumph. The final time was 2:29.89 for Keystoneforvictory, who paid $5.80 to win as the second choice in the nine-horse field. Applicator finished third, a head behind The Pizza Man.

"It set up perfect for us," winning jockey Leparoux said. "We had a perfect race."

The Stars and Stripes was the eighth win in 15 starts for Keystoneforvictory, who has earned $307,590. The colt previously won last year's Forty Niner Stakes and Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes, both at Gulfstream Park.

"He's a pretty easy horse to train," Maker said. "He's a win machine."

Florent Geroux said he felt like The Pizza Man was going to win as the field entered the stretch.

"He felt good, (and) turning for home I thought I was going to get the win. But the one horse just ran him down the last eighth of a mile. He ran great, I think he's improved on his last race and I think he's moving in the right direction. He's a little bit older now and it might take him a bit longer to get to his top form."

Produced from Free Fee Lady, a multiple stakes-winning daughter of Victory Gallop, Keystoneforvictory was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm and was purchased by his owners for $25,000 from St George Sales at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.