Stayers' Watch: omnibus edition · 11.05.09

Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (23 April)

Five-year-old race-mare Winter View scored a come-from-behind victory in the 1 1/2 mile Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (G3), Keeneland’s major turf stayers’ race for fillies and mares. Brought back 2 1/2 weeks after taking a 12-furlong allowance race, she trailed the field through the first mile as pre-race favourite Dress Rehearsal set dawdling fractions. Winter View made her move coming into the stretch and took over past the eighth-pole, winning by two lengths. Last year’s winner Communique also made a strong late run to get second, while Dress Rehearsal hung on to third. Winter View’s final time, reflecting the slow early pace, was 2:34.11 on “firm” going, compared to 2:31.64 in her allowance victory earlier in the month.

Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (24 April)

European-breds dominated Keeneland’s pre-eminent stayers’ race, as Spice Route and Musketier ran one-two in the 1 1/2 mile Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G2). The UK-bred Spice Route raced mid-pack through most of the race before making a move around the final turn, taking the lead at the eighth-pole, then going on to win by two lengths. German-bred Musketier finished second, with Brass Hat a neck back in third. Pre-race favourite Champs Elysees never got going and wound up seventh. Final time was 2:29.23 on a “firm” turf course.

Hasta La Vista Handicap (3 May)

Turf Paradise’s closing race of the year was the ungraded Hasta La Vista Handicap — at 1 7/8 miles the longest stakes race in North America. The winner of this year’s running was Highland Games, with Latino Summer second and New Fandan third. Time: 3:11.10.

Nasty and Bold Stakes (7 May)

Left Coast Racing’s top dirt stayer of 2008, Delosvientos, was the odds-on favourite in the Nasty and Bold Stakes, a 12-furlong ungraded overnight stakes at Belmont Park. A rare occasion when the entire circumference of the great track is utilized, the race attracted only five starters. Delosvientos sprinted to an early lead and set moderate fractions through the first mile, but gave way on the far turn and was eventually eased to finish last — no word yet on what happened to him, if anything. Atoned won by a neck over Alcomo in a stretch duel, with Eldaafer another five lengths back. Time 2:31.79, track sloppy.

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