Upsets abound at Keeneland, including a stunner among Kentucky Derby hopefuls
It was a day full of upsets at Keeneland on Saturday, and that held true in the race that was the richest of the afternoon — for competitors and bettors.
In the highlight of Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend, the $1 million Shadwell Turf, 23-1 shot Next Shares took command in the stretch and held off second-place Great Wide Open, who went off at 81-1.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Next Shares covered the 1-mile race in 1:36.97 for his second straight win and the fifth of his career.
“He’s had a lot of seconds and beats by a nose, but he won pretty easy last time,” said Next Shares trainer Richard Baltas. “We took a shot here. Obviously, he was training unbelievable, a credit to everyone that works with the horse. We got a great trip. Thought we were a little close in the beginning, but that’s why you don’t tell the jockeys too much.”
Gaffalione said his eyes lit up when he saw a path to the rail open.
“I had a lot of horse while I was getting there. I was just hoping it would stay open long enough,” Gaffalione said. “I just had to hang on. I was a little closer (to the pace) than I thought I would be, but he was running so easily, I didn’t want to take anything away from him.”
Next Shares paid $48.80, $22.20 and $13. A $1 exacta paid $984.10 and a 50-cent trifecta with third-place Qurbaan returned $3,878.
Huge upset among Derby hopefuls
In a race that showcased a field full of hopefuls for next year’s Kentucky Derby, a massive long shot set a new record — in dominating fashion, no less.
Knicks Go, who went off with the worst odds in the 13-horse field at 70-1, blew away his competitors in the Breeders’ Futurity to become the longest shot to ever win the race.
Ridden by Albin Jimenez and trained by Ben Colebrook, Knicks Go led the 1 1/6 mile contest from start to finish, steadily separating from the pack of fellow 2-year-olds in the stretch.
Knicks Go paid $142, $50.40 and $18. A $1 exacta with second-place Signalman paid $688.90 and a 50-cent trifecta including third-place Standard Deviation paid $2,658.20.
Perhaps more important than the huge share of the $500,000 purse, Knicks Go gained a leg up in the chase for a spot in next year’s Run for the Roses. With the win, Knicks Go captured 10 points on the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Last year’s final qualifier, Instilled Regard, got into the Kentucky Derby with a total of 29 points.
“Albin (Jimenez) just stole it really. They didn’t give him any respect and he got out there and just got to gallop,” said Colebrook after the race. “I could see (Knicks Go) on the backside, his ears were just going. I could tell he was going to run big. But I didn’t think he was going to run that big. It was just amazing.”
Other stakes races
Thoroughbred Club of America: Golden Mischief survived an objection by the third-place finisher to win her third race in a row for trainer Brad Cox. Vertical Oak’s jockey Ricardo Santana claimed Golden Mischief interfered with his move in the late stretch but stewards disagreed. The win gave Golden Micshief an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Division race.
The First Lady: Second-choice Raving Beauty went off at 3-1, took the lead early and held off a late charge from Dona Bruja for a wire-to-wire win. Favorite Quidura, at 2-1, faded early and finished seventh in the nine-horse field.
It was the sixth career win for Raving Beauty and earned the 5-year-old mare a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Division race.
The Woodford: In the only stakes race of Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend that didn’t reward its winner with an automatic berth in a Breeders’ Cup race, Bucchero was victorious for the second year in a row. The 6-year-old edged late-closing Will Call by a half length and became the fourth horse to win the Woodford twice.
Early return on investment
The first two days of the Fall Meet proved lucrative for bettors who looked past the favorites. Beyond the stunning upsets in Saturday’s two marquee races, horses with odds of 6-1 or longer won seven of the meet’s first 12 contests, including Saturday’s first two.
In the opening race for maidens, fourth-choice Truth Goddess went off at 7-1 and won going away, returning $16.40, $5.40 and $3.
In race No. 2, Beach Flower was bet down to 6-1 from her morning line of 10-1 and went wire-to-wire for the win. She paid $15.80, $6.60 and $4.60.
With Tiz Ella’s mild upset in the fifth race, eight of the Fall Meet’s first 15 races were won by horses who went off at 6-1 or longer. At 8-1, Tiz Ella broke her maiden and paid $17.60, $7.60 and $5.40.
Mo’ muggy, no problems
For the second day in a row unseasonably hot weather in Lexington did nothing to depress the turnout at Keeneland.
Despite temperatures that hovered in the mid-80s and a heat index that pushed above 90 degrees, a massive crowd of 24,142 showed up for Saturday’s action.
A favorable break in the University of Kentucky football schedule likely helped bolster attendance numbers as well. With the Wildcats’ critical game against Texas A&M occurring on the road and kicking off at 7 p.m., fans who might have otherwise been torn between tailgating at Keeneland or Kroger Field were spared a difficult choice.
This story was originally published October 6, 2018 at 7:18 PM.