Suedois a gallant third for Spencer and O'Meara behind Bowies Hero in Turf Mile

David O'Meara's Suedois could not repeat his victory of two years ago but still emerged with great credit with a fast-finishing third under Jamie Spencer in the $1 million Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Saturday.

The prize went instead to Bowies Hero, with his connections making a first-ever trip to Kentucky lured by the big purse, a Breeders’ Cup bid and an ideal distance.

With a powerful rally through the stretch, Bowies Hero surged past a half dozen rivals to win by three-quarters of a length, backing up the confidence of his Southern California-based connections. The Breeders' Cup Challenge ‘Win and You're In’ victory earned him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 2, which will be contested in his backyard at Santa Anita.

"It's a million-dollar race, and we have the horse—we've always had confidence in him," said Joshua Flores, assistant to winning trainer Phil D'Amato, on the decision to ship to Kentucky. "It's a 'Win and You're In,' so we figured why not take a shot at it. Going in, it looked like a wide-open race. We knew that if we could just stay out of trouble, he'd have a chance."

Spencer, who partnered the 2017 Turf Mile winner Suedois, said: “The draw [in 12] was a big handicap to my horse, probably the difference between winning and losing. He’s run good and he’s an eight-year-old. The trainer has done well with him.”

Suedois was the clear best of the European runners in the race with Van Beethoven eighth, Vintager 12th and Robin Of Navan 13th.

Also on Saturday

Keeneland: First Lady Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m | 3yo+ f&m | turf

Uni (Chad Brown/Joel Rosario) sprang an upset in the First Lady Stakes as her better-fancied stablemate Rushing Fall could only manage fourth.

The five-year-old earned an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita next month, although connections are required to pay $100,000 if they want to take up the spot as she is not Breeders’ Cup nominated.

Whit Beckman, assistant to Brown, said: “It’s another addition to her tremendous career as a miler. She’s real solid when she’s put at this distance and she’s gone to multiple tracks and has shown that kick.”

The European runners were unable to land a blow with Awesometank (sixth) Just Wonderful (seventh) and Indian Blessing (11th) finishing out of the places.

Keeneland: Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (Grade 1) | 1m½f | 2yo | dirt

It took Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Brendan Walsh/Jose Ortiz) only 21 days to do what many horses spend their entire careers trying to achieve.

After overcoming a troubled trip that sent him from last to first in his debut at Churchill Downs last month, the two-year-old son of Street Sense took much the same route to Grade 1 glory. Breaking slowly from the gate and racing in the back of the pack for much of the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity), the colt sailed clear down the centre of the stretch to win by five and a half lengths at Keeneland.

"Speechless," Godolphin president Jimmy Bell said of the win. "But thinking back on it, when you break your maiden first time out the way he did it—walking out of the gate, circling the field, taking all the dirt—he obviously got a lot of experience in that first race.

"I think he ran the same race again today. We thought, 'Don't worry, he'll break a lot sharper today.' But he didn't get away all that well. I give a lot of credit to Jose. he was very professional, very chilly, very patient, and when you're on a good horse, it's best to let him get in that rhythm and make sure you don't get stopped turning for home."

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