Mongolian Saturday, winner of last year’s TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint returned to Keeneland to take the $150,000 Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select Stakes.
The 6-year-old son of Any Given Saturday covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.46.
Mongolian Saturday, winner of last year’s TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint returned to Keeneland to take the $150,000 Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select Stakes.
The 6-year-old son of Any Given Saturday covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.46.
Making his first start of the year in the U.S. after racing in Hong Kong and in a pair of races in England, Mongolian Saturday broke from post-position 12 in the Woodford and was quickly right on the early pace set by Shogood and Bucchero, who battled on the front end through an opening quarter of :21.75 and a half in a crisp :44.64.
Jockey Carlos Montalvo asked and Mongolian Saturday quickly responded by opening up on his 11 opponents in midstretch while making a three-wide move, hitting five furlongs in :56.90. He held off the late run of Hogy, who was next to last early, to win. Front Pocket Money and Galton finished in a dead-heat for third.
Mongolian Saturday paid $10.80, $6, and $4.40. Hogy paid $7.80 and $4.60.—Evan Hammonds