Double 22 Stables’ A Fine Chardonnay posted a three-quarters of a length victory over favored Sneaky Good to win the 41st running of the $400,000 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Friday afternoon as Keeneland kicked off its 15-day Spring Meet.

Also Friday, C R K Stable’s Remember Mamba won the 38th running of the $600,000 UK HealthCare Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds and Donamire Farm’s homebred Trouble Calling captured the 78th running of the $400,000 Lafayette (L) for 3-year-olds.

In the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont, A Fine Chardonnay and Sneaky Good raced at the back of a five-horse field as Wrong Shoes set an uncontested pace of :22.87 and :46.36. At the top of the stretch, Wrong Shoes shifted out to midtrack, opening the rail for Sneaky Good, while A Fine Chardonnay took the overland route with clear sailing.

Trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., A Fine Chardonnay completed the 7 furlongs over a muddy track in a stakes-record 1:23.85. It is the second win in the race for Wilkes, who won in 2020 with Four Graces. Four Graces previously held the stakes record of 1:24.90.

Now 2-for-2 at Keeneland with a previous win in the Dean Dorton Myrtlewood last fall, A Fine Chardonnay is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Maclean’s Music out of the Bernardini mare Andele. The victory was worth $248,000 and increased her earnings to $502,163 with a 5-3-0-2 record.

A Fine Chardonnay returned $6.82, $2.64 and $2.16. Sneaky Good, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $2.22 and $2.10 and finished 1¾ lengths in front of Wrong Shoes, who paid $3.28 to show under Joel Rosario.

Favored Remember Mamba wins UK HealthCare Transylvania

In the UK HealthCare Transylvania, Remember Mamba rallied from far back to score a half-length victory over Honey Dutch.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Remember Mamba completed the mile and a sixteenth on a turf course labeled as good in 1:44.49. It was the second win in the race for Ortiz, who previously won on Analyze It in 2018.

Street Beast set an uncontested pace with fractions of :23.20, :48.28 and 1:13.72 with Honey Dutch in closest pursuit and Remember Mamba near the back of the 11-horse field. The top two maintained their advantage into deep stretch with Vasy (IRE) splitting horses to present the first challenge while Remember Mamba had clear sailing on the far outside.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Remember Mamba is a Kentucky-bred son of Kitten’s Joy out of the Uncle Mo mare Gizmo. Now 3-for-3, Remember Mamba pocketed $344,100 for the victory to increase his earnings to $439,333.

Sent off as the favorite, Remember Mamba returned $6.88, $4.80 and $3.50. Honey Dutch, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $9.48 and $5.22 while finishing a neck in front of Vasy (IRE), who paid $3.92 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another neck back to Street Beast, who was followed in order by Time for America, Noble Dynasty, Proton, Zeppelin, Attfield, Ganaas and Aces Honor.

Trouble Calling edges Oscar’s Hope in Lafayette

In the Lafayette, Trouble Calling outlasted Oscar’s Hope by a head after dueling on even terms through the final eighth of a mile.

Trained by Greg Foley and ridden by Luis Saez, Trouble Calling covered the 7 furlongs over a track rated as sloppy in 1:24.03. It is the second Lafayette victory for Foley, who previously won with Carnacks Choice in 2007.

Carson Street led the field of seven through fractions of :21.91 and :44.47 while Oscar’s Hope raced in midpack with Trouble Calling racing near the rear of the field. Carson Street maintained his advantage to the eighth pole where Oscar’s Hope and Trouble Calling both pounced and blew on past.

Trouble Calling is a Kentucky-bred son of Dialed In out of the Into Mischief mare Into Trouble. The victory was worth $241,800 and improved Trouble Calling’s bankroll to $326,039 with a 6-2-2-1 record.

Trouble Calling returned $11.40, $5.24 and $4.20. Oscar’s Hope, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and representing trainer Kinnon LaRose’s first Keeneland starter, returned $7.26 and $4.46 and finished 4¼ lengths in front of Carson Street, who paid $3.92 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another 2¾ lengths back to Arctic Beast with Star Sweeper, favored Knock It Off and Comport following in order.

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Racing continues Saturday with an 11-race program headlined by the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1), which serves as a major prep for the 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.

First post is 1 p.m. ET with the Toyota Blue Grass closing the program with a 6:22 p.m. post time.