After being beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Hurry up IN KeenelandBewitch shares of (G3T) April 26, 2019 Atomic blonde turned the tables on his rival with an extended rally in a bizarre edition of the $234,500 Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs May 25.
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The race turned when Sand and Sea with Reylu Gutierrez aboard, opened up a 22-length lead at the half-mile pole before flying the white flag and being destroyed by her rivals on the far turn.
Finally settling through the fractions :23.47, :47.01 and 1:11.43, jockey Tyler Gaffalione set his sights on Chop Chop and Vergara who would finish second and third respectively as they started to advance.
“The two guys I was keeping an eye on weren’t running away from me,” Gaffalione said. “I was pulled back a little further than I wanted to be, but she was in such a great rhythm that I didn’t want to call her out too early.”
Saving ground on the rails, Atomic Blonde accelerated as she shifted the lead in the stretch and overtook Chop Chop in the last 16, winning in 2:31.01 while paying $7.64 .
Group 3 winner in Italy, Keertana marked a 5-year-old daughter of Gray Gatsby the United States’ first victory in nine tries. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Clement and Winters Equine, Atomic Blonde improved his record to 4-5-4 from 20 starts with earnings of $478,249.
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