Current came flying late to steal the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. at Keeneland Sunday and stamp his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf next month at Churchill Downs in this “Win and You're In” event. Coming in a bit as he exited post 10, the 9-2 shot raced near the back early as War of Will (War Front) had his things his own way up front, posting early fractions of :23.59 and :48.82. Advancing into mid-pack on the far turn, the $725,000 KEESEP buy was out in the center of the track in the lane and mowed down his competition to get up just in time for a nose success in a blanket finish. Henley's Joy nosed out Salvator Mundi for second. War of Will finished another 3/4 of a length behind him in fourth.
“When we straightened for home, I felt like he started running. I put him in the clear, but when I hit him left-handed, he drifted out in the two or three path,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “But he was running. Inside the eighth pole to the wire, I was hoping I'd get there. It was so close, I didn't know if I had it. He broke OK. He was very relaxed the whole time, and that's the point, get your horse to relax. He kicked home very well.”
Current closed well to be third behind subsequent GI Summer S. victor Fog of War (War Front) in his 5 1/2-panel unveiling on the Saratoga lawn Aug. 13. He rolled home to a three-length victory next out when extended to a mile on the grass at Belmont Sept. 8.
Pedigree Notes:
Current is the 22nd graded winner and 29th black-type winner for his sire Curlin. His dam Crosswinds is a daughter of MGISW millionaire Flute (Seattle Slew) and a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). She is responsible for another graded winner at Keeneland in GI Ashland S. heroine Weep No More. Crosswinds aborted her 2017 Candy Ride foal, but produced a Frosted filly Mar. 12 and was bred back to Arrogate.
Sunday, Keeneland
DIXIANA BOURBON S.-GIII, $250,000, Keeneland, 10-7, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.10, fm.
1–CURRENT, 118, c, 2, by Curlin">Curlin
1st Dam: Crosswinds, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Flute, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Rougeur, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($725,000
Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Robert V.
LaPenta; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Jose L.
Ortiz. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $201,450. *1/2 to
Weep No More (Mineshaft), GISW, $435,589. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”denali-keenov-hip-144″][bullet ad=”hinkle-farms-bred-raised-sold”][bullet ad=”bridlewood-farm-training-graduate”][bullet ad=”equix-optimatch”][bullet ad=”thorostride-new”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2—Henley's Joy, 120, c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Blue Grass Music, by
Bluegrass Cat. ($20,000 Ylg '17 EASOCT; $50,000 2yo '18
OBSAPR). O-Bloom Racing Stable; B-Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey
(KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $50,000.[bullet ad=”stuart-morris-yearling-graduate”][bullet ad=”woodford-obs-hip-36″]3–Salvator Mundi, 118, c, 2, Artie Schiller–Conquest Lil Miss, by
Horse Greeley. ($13,500 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $29,000 RNA Ylg '17
FTKTUR; $47,000 Ylg '17 FTKOCT). O-Magdalena Racing (Sherri
McPeek); B-Conquest Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$25,000. [bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”]Margins: NO, NO, 3/4. Odds: 4.90, 4.00, 29.70.
Also Ran: War of Will, Mick's Star, Tracksmith, More Than A. P., Blockbuster, Forloveofcountry, Shazier, Mr Wrench It, Pradar, Ice City Ghost. Scratched: Concrete Rose, Life Mission. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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