Under Javier Castellano, Webslinger narrowly wins the American Turf (Daniella Ricci/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— D. J. Stable’s Webslinger rallied widest of all to prevail by a nose over Far Bridge to win the 32nd running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by BMW (GII) for 3-year-olds.
Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Javier Castellano, Webslinger completed the mile and a sixteenth over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:41.54. It is the third victory in the race for Castellano with his previous winners coming in 2013 with Noble Tune and 2005 with Rey de Café.
Mo Stash led the field through fractions of :23.81 and :47.97 while being pressured by Desert Duke with favored Carl Spackler (IRE) looming just behind the top two while racing in the clear.
At the top of the stretch, Mo Stash cut the corner to maintain his lead while Carl Spackler swung with Webslinger following right behind him.
Mo Stash refused to yield the lead until late in the stretch when Far Bridge darted toward to the rail while Major Dude and Webslinger attacked from the inside.
Far Bridge took over late in the stretch only to be caught in the final strides by Webslinger with Major Dude a half-length back between runners in third.
The victory was worth $285,200 and increased Websliner’s earnings to $723,800 with a record of 8-3-2-1 with his first graded stakes victory.
Webslinger is a Kentucky-bred son of Constitution out of the Hard Spun mare Arana.
Webslinger returned $47.34, $15.76 and $8.28. Far Bridge, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $6.70 and $4.74 with Major Dude third and paying $3.74 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.
It was another length back to Mo Stash, who was followed in order by Johannes, Behind Enemy Lines (GB), Andthewinneris, Carl Spackler, Mendelssohns March, Anglophile, Scoobie Quando, Otago and Desert Duke.
AMERICAN TURF QUOTES
Javier Castellano (jockey, Webslinger, winner) – “I’m so grateful that Mark (Casse) gave me the opportunity to ride this horse today. At Keeneland, he learned a lot when he finished third, and he broke so well coming out of the gate today. That allowed me to save ground, which we needed coming out of 14. I let the race develop on the first turn, and I really liked the way he did it today, and the way he finished the race.”
David Carroll (assistant trainer, Webslinger, winner) – “We didn’t get any advantages coming out of the 14 hole. The he had to make a long, sustained run. He’s a heckuva horse and this was a heckuva race for him.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Far Bridge, second) – “He gave me everything I asked, but we just got beat at the wire by that horse. He ran a big race.”
