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Lafitte bosses foes in Transylvania

Boss Lafitte was the brightest star on a gray opening day at Keeneland (Mathea Kelley/Horsephotos.com) Friday's $150,000 Transylvania S. (G3), the opening-day feature at Keeneland, was taken off the turf following a night of heavy rain in the Lexington, Kentucky, area. Nevertheless, the leading contenders were happy to take their chance on the Polytrack, and Uptown Racing's BOSS LAFITTE (Dynaformer) shot through along the rail and drove to a half-length victory. Under a ground-saving ride by Robby Albarado, Boss Lafitte tracked the early pace set by 8-5 choice Prussian (Danzig), who strolled through splits of :25 3/5, :50 4/5 and 1:14 4/5. Turning for home, a yawning gap opened up along the rail when Prussian drifted out, and Boss Lafitte took full advantage. The Tom Amoss trainee burst through to take charge, opening up by 1 1/2 lengths in midstretch, and gamely repelled the challenge of Riley Tucker (Harlan's Holiday) to record his first stakes victory. Boss Lafitte completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 2/5 and rewarded his backers with mutuels of $21.20, $6.40 and $5.20 as the 9-1 fifth choice.

"Today, we used better tactics -- we stayed close to the pace," Amoss said, alluding to his colt's fourth-place effort in the March 22 Grindstone S. at Fair Grounds, where he fell as many as 13 lengths behind the early leader.

Riley Tucker stalked Prussian in second in the early going, confronted the pacesetter at the top of the stretch, and came again after being summarily passed by Boss Lafitte. Although he was unable to catch the winner, Riley Tucker never gave up the fight and finished an admirable runner-up. The 7-2 shot returned $4.60 and $4.20 while ending the $68 exacta. It was another two lengths back to Budge Man (Fusaichi Pegasus), who overhauled a tiring Prussian by a neck for third. Unheralded at nearly 28-1, Budge Man gave back $5.80 to show and completed the $794.60 trifecta. Prussian anchored the $2,682.40 superfecta (2-1-6-4), and he was trailed by Free Fighter (Out of Place), Love Everybody (Artax), 2-1 second choice Barrier Reef (Mizzen Mast) and Groom's Cat (Magic Cat). Sr. Henry (Straight Man) was the only withdrawal.

Boss Lafitte improved his scorecard to 9-3-2-1, $161,040. The dark bay broke his maiden in his fifth attempt, and two starts later, he captured an off-the-turf allowance in strong fashion at Fair Grounds. He made his stakes debut in the aforementioned Grindstone and closed furiously to be beaten a total of one length.

Bred in Kentucky by B.P. Walden, C. Montgomery & Dearborn Stable, Boss Lafitte was a $325,000 purchase as a two-year-old in training at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale. He is out of Grade 3 heroine War Thief (Lord at War [Arg]), who has four stakes-quality siblings. She is a full sister to Grade 3 queen Watch, as well as stakes victor and Grade 3-placed Stop Watch, and a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Prime Meridian (The Prime Minister) and stakes scorer Remind (Deputy Minister). Boss Lafitte has an unnamed juvenile half-sister by Gone West.

Amoss mentioned the $150,000 Crown Royal American Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 2, Kentucky Oaks Day, as a "big possibility."

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