Ickymasho Scores First North American Win in Bewitch

Triton Stable's Ickymasho made the most of her return to Keeneland's Bewitch Stakes (G3T) on closing day of the spring meet April 26, scoring by a diminishing one-length margin over the aptly named Gaining.

Trainer Roger Attfield watched with relief as jockey Jose Ortiz guided the 7-year-old daughter of Multiplex to the lead after the half-mile mark in the 1 1/2-mile turf event. Ickymasho held a length advantage before opening up by 5 1/2 lengths coming off the final turn and into the stretch but was chased down late by Gaining, who couldn't quite reach her.

"When (Ortiz) took command of the race and down the backside, she opened up enough that I felt reasonably comfortable," Attfield said. "I thought, please, God, don't catch her now. She's a gutsy mare. We're just delighted with her."

Attfield earned his fourth win in the Bewitch. He also won the race with Sweetest Thing (2002), Noble Stella (2006), and Lady Shakespeare (2010).

Beach Flower took the field through an opening half-mile in 50.25 before Ickymasho, who finished third in last year's edition, raced up from fourth to take over. Once on the lead, Ickymasho traveled comfortably.

"She was a little keen when we passed the eighth pole (the first time)," Ortiz said. "I tried to cover her up and tried to get her to relax, but I wasn't able to because they kept backing up the pace in front of me. 

"She ran good for me when she was on the lead at Gulfstream, so I decided to let her go. I wanted to try to surprise them by taking the lead without using her so much. I felt somebody was coming at the eighth pole (nearing the finish of the race), so I had to ask for everything."

Gaining closed well for second, with longshot Coachwhip getting up for third, 5 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

"There was a (slow) pace early, and then midrace, Ickymasho went to the lead, and that was probably the winning move," said jockey Florent Geroux, who was aboard Gaining. "In the stretch, I thought I could win and I felt like the leader was coming back to me. But I had too many lengths to make up."

The final time for the 1 1/2-mile race was 2:31.26.

The victory increased Ickymasho's earnings to $283,403 for a record of 9-11-4 from 39 starts. It was Ickymasho's first win in this country after 30 starts in Europe. She was runner-up twice in March in the Orchid Stakes (G3T) and The Very One Stakes (G3T), both at Gulfstream Park.

Bred by Allseasons Bloodstock in Great Britain, Ickymasho is out of the Mark of Esteem mare Icky Woo.