NEST (f, 3, Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) provided her terrific sire with a second consecutive winner of Keeneland’s GI Central Bank Ashland S. Friday afternoon, overcoming a tricky trip to win by an imposing margin. Favored at 8-5 off a comebacking victory in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 12, the $350,000 Keeneland September yearling was beaten for speed and settled in the second flight of horses as 9-5 second pick Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) showed the way through even sectionals. Committed to a wide run into the turn, Nest nevertheless warmed up to the task four wide midway on the bend, assumed command with about a quarter-mile to go and blasted home to take it by a convincing 8 1/4-length margin. Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) nipped Interstatedaydream for second. Nest, winner of the GII Demoiselle S. at the tail end of 2021 and a full-sister to GISW Idol, becomes the 17th top-level scorer for Curlin and is bred on the exact same cross as ‘TDN Rising Star’ Malathaat, who used the Ashland as a springboard to success in last year’s GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg ’20 KEESEP. O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher.
Friday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $587,488, Keeneland, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.16, wf.
1–NEST, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Nureyev’s Best, by Nureyev
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg ’20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and House, Michael; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $358,050. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $623,050. *Full to Idol, GISW, $416,964. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cocktail Moments, 121, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: River Maid (Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, GSW,$442,909), by Where’s the Ring
2nd Dam: Rivermaid Dancing, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Perky Dancer, by Green Dancer
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Wlg ’19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg’20 KEESEP; $245,000 RNA 2yo ’21 OBSMAR). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $115,500.
3–Interstatedaydream, 121, f, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Babcock, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Captivating, by Arch
3rd Dam: Andrea Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($105,000 Ylg ’20 KEEJAN; $130,000 Ylg’20 KEESEP; $175,000 2yo ’21 OBSAPR). O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC; B-William D. Graham (ON); T-Brad H. Cox. $48,125.
Margins: 8 1/4, NO, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 9.30, 1.90.
Also Ran: Awake At Midnyte, Sterling Silver, Happy Soul, Miss Mattie B, Heavenly Hellos.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.