Kimari, Jouster, Bound for Nowhere and Flagstaff Victorious in Saturday Keeneland Graded Stakes

Ten Broeck Farm’s Kimari surged to the front in midstretch and went on to post a three-quarters of a length victory in the 20^thrunning of the $300,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon.

Also capturing graded stakes on the afternoon were Starlight Racing’s Jouster in the 33^rd running of the $200,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies, Wesley Ward’s Bound for Nowhere in the 25^th running of the $200,000 Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up and Lane’s End Racing and Hronis Racing’s Flagstaff in the 34^th running of the $200,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.

Kimari extended the amazing opening weekend run for trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Joel Rosario.

For Ward, it was his fourth stakes victory in the past two days and his second win in the Madison to go with the triumph by his Judy the Beauty in 2014.

For Rosario, it was his fourth stakes victory Saturday and sixth in two days.

Mundaye Call led the field of seven through fractions of :22.90 and :45.58 with Kimari tracking just to her outside. Kimari put Mundaye Call away at the eighth pole and had enough left to hold off Bell’s the One and Estilo Talentoso, who finished in a dead heat for second. Kimari ran the 7 furlongs in 1:21.53.

Kimari is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Munnings out of the Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady. The victory was worth $180,000 and increased Kimari’s earnings to $758,777 with a record of 10-6-2-1. It is Kimari’s first graded stakes victory.

Kimari, sent off as the favorite, returned $3.40, $2.40 and $2.40. Bell’s the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $2.40 and $2.80 in finishing in a dead heat for second with Estilo Talentoso, who paid $7.40 and $6.40 under Paco Lopez.

It was another 2¼ lengths back to Sanenus (CHI), who was followed in order by Mundaye Call, Fair Maiden and Sconsin.

Jouster takes Appalachian

In the Appalachian, Jouster went right to the front and never was challenged in posting a 1 1/2-length victory over Gift List (GB).

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Luis Saez, Jouster covered the mile on a turf course rated as “good” in 1:36.83. The victory was the third in the race for Pletcher, whose other triumphs came with Ocean Drive in 2003 and Audacious Chloe in 2007.

Saez, who has ridden Jouster to all of her three victories, took the initiative out of the gate sending Jouster right to the front and quickly establishing a daylight advantage. Jouster led the field of six through fractions of :24.82, :49.87 and 1:14.29 without being threatened.

The victory was worth $120,000 and increased Jouster’s earnings to $214,920 with a record of 6-3-2-0. Jouster is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Noble Mission (GB) out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Playtime.

Sent off as the favorite, Jouster returned $5.40, $3.60 and $2.80. Gift List, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $6.40 and $4.40 and finished a half-length in front of Plum Ali, who paid $3 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 3½ lengths back to Saranya with Flown and Spanish Loveaffair following in order.

Bound for Nowhere wins second Shakertown

In the Shakertown, Bound for Nowhere became the second two-time winner of the race as he caught 2019 winner Imprimis at the wire to win by a nose.

Owned and trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Joel Rosario, Bound for Nowhere covered the 5½ furlongs over the “good” turf course in 1:02.19. It is the third victory in the race for Ward, who won with Undrafted in 2016 and Bound for Nowhere in 2018. Rosario won the 2017 renewal with Holding Gold.

The only other two-time winner of the Shakertown was Soaring Free in 2004-2005.

Johnny Unleashed and The Critical Way dueled for the early lead with Bound for Nowhere racing in midpack outside of horses and Imprimis racing along the rail.

Turning into the stretch, Paco Lopez angled Imprimis off the inside into the clear with Bound for Nowhere following right behind. The two separated from the rest of the field with Bound for Nowhere hitting the front in the final strides.

The victory was worth $120,000 and improved Bound for Nowhere’s earnings to $999,857 with a record of 17-7-2-2. A Keeneland sales graduate, Bound for Nowhere won the 2018 Shakertown, was second beaten neck by Imprimis in 2019 and third a neck behind Leinster last year.

Bound for Nowhere returned $6.60, $3.60 and $3.40 as the slight favorite. Imprimis returned $3.80 and $3.20 and finished 3 lengths ahead of the Critical Way who paid $7 to show under Luis Saez.

It was another nose back to Johnny Unleashed, who was followed in order by American Butterfly, Kanthaka, Readyforprimetime, High Crime, Turned Aside, Just Might, Chess Master and Hollis.

Flagstaff draws off in Commonwealth

In the Commonwealth, Flagstaff collared dueling leaders Special Reserve and Bango inside the sixteenth pole and drew off for a 1 1/4-length victory.

Trained by John Sadler and ridden Joel Rosario, Flagstaff covered the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:21.84. The victory was the third in the race for Rosario, whose previous victories came in 2012 with Lonesome Street and 2017 with Awesome Slew.

Special Reserve led a tight pack through fractions of :22.98 and :45.97 as Flagstaff raced in midpack on the inside. Turning for home, Rosario angled Flagstaff to the outside with Special Reserve, Bango and Mucho still to catch, a task he gradually accomplished.

The victory was worth $120,000 and increased Flagstaff’s earnings to $703,285 with a record of 18-6-6-3. It is the second Grade 2 victory for the 7-year-old gelded Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown out of the A.P. Indy mare Indyan Giving.

Sent off as the favorite in the field of seven, Flagstaff returned $5.80, $3.40 and $2.60, Special Reserve, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, returned $8.60 and $5 as he saved the runner-up spot by a nose over Attachment Rate, who paid $4 to show under Luis Saez.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Bango, who was followed in order by Mucho, Hog Creek Hustle and Hidden Scroll.