Blame made his first start since November a winning one (EquiSport Photos)

BLAME (Arch) made his highly anticipated four-year-old debut in Saturday's $100,000 William Donald Schaefer S. (G3) at Pimlico, doing enough to win comfortably and leaving something in the tank for his major springtime objective, the June 12 Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill Downs. Under Garrett Gomez, the Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm homebred enjoyed a ground-saving trip in midpack most of the way, waited patiently for a seam to open up between rivals at the head of the stretch, and drew off under hand urging to complete 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43 2/5. The 6-5 favorite paid $4.40, $3.40 and $2.60.

On a track that seemed to be playing favorably to speed through the early part of the card, 2-1 second choice Understatement (Distorted Humor) posed a threat when passing the first quarter 1 1/2 lengths ahead in :24, but he was soon pressured by Timber Reserve (Forest Camp), Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Edgewater (Lion Heart), whose riders sensed the slow pace. The four were across the track together after a half in :48 1/5, but the top Understatement and Timber Reserve reasserted themselves and were clear of the other two after six furlongs in 1:12. Meanwhile, Blame had kept in close contact from his inside position and it was only a matter of him finding room in the stretch. Understatement ultimately fell back, and early trailer No Advantage (Posse), who won the 2009 edition of the Schaefer, came on the scene late to grab second at 24-1. Timber Reserve held third by a neck at 15-1 over the 7-1 Bullsbay (Tiznow).

No Advantage paid $14.40 and $7 and completed the $67.20 exacta. Timber Reserve was worth $7.20 to show and capped the $517.20 trifecta. The 7-2-6-1 superfecta gave back $2,466. Flying Private was fifth and was followed by Edgewater and Understatement. I Know Why (Whywhywhy) and Indian Dance (Indian Charlie) were early scratches.

"We knew he was ready to run, but that doesn't mean anything until you actually see it," trainer Al Stall Jr. said. "We're happy to see him back in form. Garrett had to use him to get through that hole a little bit, but he got a lot out of it on a deepish racetrack."

Bred in Kentucky, Blame has compiled a career mark of 9-6-1-2, $676,747. Successful in a Keeneland maiden in his second start at two, he cleared his entry-level allowance condition over older foes at Churchill two starts later then made his stakes debut a winning one out in the Curlin S. at Saratoga, defeating subsequent Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and Ohio Derby (G2) hero Gone Astray (Dixie Union). After running second to Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor) in the Super Derby (G2), Blame rebounded to beat older horses in the Fayette S. (G2) at Keeneland and the Clark H. (G2) back at Churchill.

The Kentucky-bred is out of the multiple stakes-placed Seeking the Gold mare Liable, who is herself a half-sister to globetrotting Group 1 star Archipenko (Kingmambo) and stakes-winning producer Limit (Cox's Ridge). Liable has also produced stakes victor Tend (Dynaformer), a juvenile full sister to Blame named Might, and a 2010 filly by Tiznow. This is the family of supersires Nureyev (Northern Dancer) and Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer).