Spendthrift Farm LLC's Kingsbarns lived up to his favoritism by racing past second choice War Campaign at the top of the stretch and drawing off for a 3 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) Saturday at Keeneland.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Luis Saez, Kingsbarns completed the 1 3/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:57.74. The victory marked the third win in the race for Pletcher, who previously won with Exhi in 2011 and Protonico in 2015.
Laughing Boy led the field of nine through fractions of :24.07, :48.57 and 1:13.66 with War Campaign tracking in second and Kingsbarns fourth. On the far turn, War Campaign went after Laughing Boy and quickly took over with Kingsbarns on the move right behind him.
The two favorites hit the top of the stretch together, but it quickly turned into a one-horse race as Kingsbarns pulled away.
Kingsbarns is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Uncle Mo out of the Tapit mare Lady Tapit. Winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) last year, Kingsbarns improved his record to 7-5-1-0 and added $176,700 to his bankroll that now totals $907,800.
Kingsbarns returned $5.36, $3.58 and $3.10. War Campaign, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $4.40 and $3.08 and finished 3 lengths in front of Archie the Giza, who paid $6.54 to show under John Velazqauez.
It was another 1½ lengths back to Time for Trouble with Dynamic One, Surly Furious, Smile Happy, Laughing Boy and Happy American following in order.
Kingsbarns was bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group LLC. Produced by the Tapit mare Lady Tapit, the colt was an $800,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select (Gulfstream) Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale, where he was consigned by Tom McCrocklin.
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