24 Abr. USA. Grey Goose Bewitch S. G3. Keeneland. 12f. Turf. 150.000 $
1.- COMMUNIQUE (G.Gomez)
2.- TEJIDA (J.Castellano)
3.- RISING CROSS (K.Desormeaux)


Communique, comfortable behind a slow early pace, closed sharply in Keeneland Race Course’s stretch and overhauled front-running Tejida in the $150,000 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (G3) on Thursday.

Tejida, the 3.30-to-1 favorite, held on well for second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of 3.70-to-1 second choice Rising Cross (GB) in the field of ten.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Communique ran the Bewitch’s 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.91 on firm turf. The Bewitch, named for the legendary Calumet Farm champion of the late 1940s, was the first stakes win for Communique, G. Watts Humphrey’s homebred four-year-old Smart Strike filly out of Martinique, by Pleasant Colony.

Communique entered the Bewitch off a three-quarter-length victory in a 1 1/8-mile Keeneland allowance race that had been moved off the turf on April 4.

“That was a little closer than we wanted, but she did tremendous after that race,” said Rusty Arnold, her trainer.

Leaving from the fourth post position, Tejida and jockey Javier Castellano went to the front immediately and laid down moderate fractions of :25.25 for the first quarter-mile and :49.84 for the half. Communique, the 4.40-to-1 third betting choice, idled in eighth position through the first mile in 1:39.56 and launched her bid before entering the stretch.

Tejida kicked clear to a three-length advantage as Jive tired early in the stretch and appeared to be on the way to her first stakes victory. But Communique moved into third position, slightly more than two lengths behind the leader, at the furlong pole. Gomez then moved her off the rail, and Communique closed steadily to gain the victory.

As a three-year-old Communique finished second in Gulfstream Park’s Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3). The Bewitch was her third victory in 13 starts and raised her career earnings to $265,164.