Extra Anejo. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Extra Anejo wore down favored Montalcino in deep stretch to post a 1½-length victory in the 38th running of the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Flavien Prat, Extra Anejo covered 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.63.
Montalcino led the field of 11 through early fractions of :21.83 and :44.48 while Prat had Extra Anejo in the clear in sixth in the early going. Montalcino maintained a narrow advantage in the stretch over Hoist the Gold, spurted clear of that rival but could not hold off Extra Anejo.
Purchased for $1.35 million at Keeneland’s 2021 September Yearling Sale, Extra Anejo is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Hard Spun mare Superioritycomplex (IRE). The Commonwealth marked the first stakes victory for Extra Anejo and improved his record to 9-5-1-0.
The victory was worth $200,725 and boosted his earnings to $582,545.
Extra Anejo returned $10.14, $4.86 and $3.26. Montalcino, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.12 and $2.60 and finished 2 lengths in front of Hoist the Gold, who paid $3.02 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.
It was another 4 lengths back to Epic Ride, who was followed in order by Ashcroft, Caramel Chip, Prince of Power, Nutella Fella, Best Actor, Here Mi Song and Surly Furious.
Quotes for the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3)
Flavien Prat (winning rider of Extra Anejo): “The trip was good. He jumped well (from the starting gate). It seemed like there was a quite a bit of pace in front of us, so I decided to save ground and give him a chance and he made a good run down the lane.”
Scott Blasi (assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen), On whether Extra Anejo will remain competing in one-turn sprint races: “I think so. He’s always had a tremendous amount of talent. You can tell that by the races we’ve run him in. We’ve always believed in him and I’m glad Mr. (Ron) Winchell (of owner Winchell Thoroughbreds) kept him in training another year. I still think he has some big things ahead of him.”
On whether the $1 million Churchill Downs (G1) Presented by Ford on May 3 could be on tap: “That would be nice. It would look good on the stallion roster.”
Jose Ortiz (rider of runner-up Montalcino): “I broke very good – a little fast early, but he likes to run that way. I think he ran a pretty good race. He put away the other speed and held off most of the closers. He ran a very good race. The winner is a nice horse too, and I think the consequences of the fast pace helped him. We are very proud of our horse and the race he ran.”
