Verity draws off and scores in the Beaumont (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Press Prelease
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Godolphin’s Verity collared favored Stunner in midstretch and drew off to score a 5¼-length victory in the 40th running of the $400,000 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont (G2) for 3-year-olds fillies Sunday afternoon to highlight the opening day of the weather-delayed 15-day Spring Meet.
In the race before the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont, Red Gate Racing’s Normandy Coast won the sixth running of the $300,000 Palisades for 3-year-olds by 3½ lengths.
Trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, Verity completed the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet in 1:27.18 over a sloppy track to win the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont. She gave Cheminaud his first Keeneland stakes victory.
Stunner led the field of five through fractions of :22.22 and :44.89 with Verity in closest pursuit. Verity closed the gap approaching the top of the stretch, gradually moved alongside and then kicked clear at the eighth pole.
A homebred daughter of Nyquist out of the Bernardini mare Moiety, Verity has won her past three races – all with Cheminaud aboard. The victory was worth $248,000 and boosted her earnings to $368,044 after four outings.
Verity returned $14.26, $5.02 and $3.98. Stunner, with Flavien Prat aboard, returned $2.86 and $2.26 and finished 4¾ lengths in front of Volleyballprincess, who paid $3.92 to show under Eliseo Ruiz.
G W’s Girl and Continuity completed the order of finish.
Normandy Coast Wins Palisades
In the Palisades, which was taken off the grass and moved to the main track, Normandy Coast moved to the inside of favored Long Neck Paula on the far turn, dueled with that one on even terms to midstretch before drawing off for the victory.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Ben Curtis, Normandy Coast covered the 5½ furlongs on a sloppy main track in 1:04.35. It is the first Keeneland stakes victory for Curtis.
Long Neck Paula rocketed off to an uncontested lead through an opening quarter of :21.92. Racing just off the rail, Long Neck Paula allowed Normandy Coast to find room on the turn on the inside en route to a ground-saving trip.
Now a winner of three of five races on the dirt, Normandy Coast is a Kentucky-bred son of Omaha Beach out of the Congrats mare Alliteration. The victory was worth $183,675 and increased his earnings to $269,525.
Normandy Coast returned $7.24, $3.02 and $2.50. Long Neck Paula, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, returned $2.82 and $2.26 and finished 7¾ lengths in front of Killjoy, who paid $3.62 to show under Joseph Ramos.
It was another length back to Flat to Da Mat with Turbulent Force and Brie’s in Town following in order.
The postponed opening-day 10-race program will be run Monday beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card, which features three stakes, is the 88th running of the $750,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Central Bank Ashland will be the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:16 p.m. post time.
Keeneland will offer a Pick 6 carryover of $39,292.
