Buy TicketsPapilio (IRE), Caravel, Here Mi Song Notch Graded Stakes Victories
Saturday at Keeneland
First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s Goodnight Olive, the Eclipse Award-winning champion female sprinter of 2022, returned in style with a 1-length victory over Maryquitecontrary in the 22nd running of the $600,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Also capturing graded stakes victories were Papilio (IRE) in the 35th running of the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies; Caravel in the 27th running of the $350,000 Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up; and Here Mi Song in the 36th running of the $300,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.
In the Madison, Goodnight Olive covered the 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.12 and gave trainer Chad Brown his third victory in the race. Brown’s other wins came with Paulassilverlining in 2017 and Guarana in 2020.
Society and Yuugiri dueled for the early lead through fractions of :22.53 and :45.93 with Goodnight Olive just off the leading duo. On the turn, Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Goodnight Olive after the leaders and she easily swept to the lead by the time the field hit the homestretch.
In the lane, Goodnight Olive put away Society then widened her cushion to 3 lengths at midstretch and had enough to hold off a late bid from Maryquitecontrary to post her seventh consecutive victory and third Grade 1.
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) here last fall in her most recent start, Goodnight Olive is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Ghostzapper out of the Smart Strike mare Salty Strike. The victory was worth $372,000 and increased Goodnight Olive’s earnings to $1,391,950 with a record of 8-7-1-0.
Goodnight Olive returned $2.74, $2.14 and $2.10. Maryquitecontrary, ridden by Luca Panici, returned $4.20 and $3.08 and finished 4¼ lengths in front of Society, who paid $2.16 to show under Florent Geroux.
It was another 5¾ lengths back to Cocktail Moments, who was followed by Yuugiri.
Papilio Surges Late to Win Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association
D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Papilio (IRE) rallied from far off the pace and then held off a late charge from Cairo Consort by a neck to win the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association.
Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Javier Castellano, Papilio covered the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:36.32.
It is the third victory in the race for both Casse and Castellano. Casse won in 2016 with Catch a Glimpse and repeated in 2017 with La Coronel. Castellano won with Dayatthespa in 2012 and Rushing Fall in 2018.
Heavenly Sunday led the field of nine through uncontested fractions of :23.50, :48.27 and 1:12.86 with Well Into and Pleasant Passage in closest pursuit while Papilio raced near the back of the pack. Entering the far turn, Papilio was next to last but began to inch closer between horses midway on the turn and came widest of all for clear running at the top of the stretch.
Heavenly Sunday put away Well Into at midstretch and maintained her lead until the final 50 yards when Papilio and Cairo Consort surged past.
Papilio is an Irish-bred daughter of Starspangledbanner (AUS) out of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Glafyra. Starting her career in Ireland last year, Papilio was making her second U.S. start following a runner-up finish in the Herecomesthebride (G3) last month at Gulfstream Park.
She added $176,700 to her bankroll that rose to $258,700 with a record of 7-3-2-0.
Papilio returned $13.98, $5.84 and $4.14. Cairo Consort, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $4.52 and $2.96 and finished a length in front of Heavenly Sunday, who paid $3.72 to show under Florent Geroux.
It was another length back to Well Into, who was followed in order by favored Pleasant Passage, Sabalenka, Be Your Best (IRE), Alpha Bella and Beautifulnavigator (IRE).
Caravel Outduels Bad Beat Brian to Win Shakertown
In the Shakertown, Caravel outgamed 40-1 longshot Bad Beat Brian by a head in her first start since winning the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) here in November.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Caravel covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:02.58. It is the second win in the race for Gaffalione, who guided Leinster to a course-record score in 2020.
Caravel shot quickly to the front but immediately had company in Bad Beat Brian. The two leaders ripped through fractions of :21.86 and :44.77 and continued their duel through the stretch with Caravel edging away in the final yards.
Caravel is a 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Mizzen Mast out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom. The victory was worth $169,725 and increased Caravel’s earnings to $1,500,877 with a record of 21-13-0-3.
Sent off as the favorite, Caravel returned $6.30, $4.82 and $3.60. Bad Beat Brian, ridden by Chris Emigh, returned $23.60 and $10.34 and finished a half-length in front of Arrest Me Red, who paid $4.26 to show under Joel Rosario.
It was another nose back to Oceanic with Mark of the Z, Bakers Boy, Stitched, Noble Emotion, Mister Mmmmm, All in Sync, Artemus Citylimits and Johnny Unleashed following in order.
Here Mi Song wins Commonwealth
Nathan Hayden’s homebred Here Mi Song swept to the lead at the head of the stretch and then prevailed by a neck over Hoist the Gold after a protracted stretch duel in the Commonwealth.
Trained by Billy Stinson and ridden by Alex Achard, Here Mi Song covered the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.42. It is Stinson’s first stakes victory.
Run Classic, Long Range Toddy and Pro Oxidant battled for the lead through fractions of :22.89 and :46.50 while Achard had Here Mi Song racing in the clear in midpack.
On the turn, Here Mi Song began picking off horses on the outside and took over at the top of the stretch only to be joined on the inside by Hoist the Gold. The two raced as a team through the stretch with Here Mi Song owning the advantage at the wire.
Here Mi Song is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Cross Traffic out of the Dehere mare Mi Viera. In winning his graded stakes debut, Here Mi Song added $174,375 to his bankroll that swelled to $563,193 with a record of 19-5-7-1.
Here Mi Song returned $25.60, $11.54 and $6.92. Hoist the Gold, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $9.16 and $5.30 and finished 2¼ lengths in front of Get Her Number, who paid $4.48 to show under Joel Rosario.
Nakatomi finished another nose back in fourth and was followed in order by Run Classic, Pro Oxidant, Heart Rhythm, Spankster, Long Range Toddy and Legionnaire.