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Circular has the key to Bashford Manor Michael Tabor's CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) unleashed an eye-catching run up the rail in deep stretch to claim an eventful running of the $166,500 Bashford Manor S. (G3) on Saturday. With Rafael Bejarano at the helm, the Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile stopped the teletimer in a sharp 1:09 4/5 for the six furlongs on Churchill Downs' fast track. The contest got off to a start worthy of a circus as Chace City (Carson City) broke in the air from his rail post and then veered in sharply, his head turned violently to his right. At this point he literally took to the air, jumping over the temporary rail leaving the chute, and appeared to be out of the race altogether. Rider Shaun Bridgmohan stayed in the saddle and somehow regrouped, enabling Chace City to continue, albeit six lengths behind the backmarker of the main body of the field. Also leaving the gate awkwardly was the 41-1 longshot Teuflesberg (Johannesburg), who stumbled at the break, then rushed up to seize control, streaking through a devilish opening quarter of :21 3/5 and getting the half in :45. The leader was intently stalked by first-time starter Pegasus Wind (Fusaichi Pegasus). Meanwhile, eventual winner Circular Quay, who had been away slowly himself, was allowed to settle near the rear of the group in the early going, and had to steady near the three-eighths pole. In the stretch, a tenacious Teuflesberg grimly held on to the lead through five furlongs in a torrid :57 1/5, but he was about to be swamped by a pair of challengers to his outside. Run Alex Run (Officer) and Shermanesque (Fusaichi Pegasus) both launched serious bids, with Shermanesque thrusting his head in front in his march to the wire. Behind them, though, Circular Quay was just finding his best stride as Bejarano steered him toward the rail. With ground-devouring strides, the chestnut blew past the leaders to cross the wire in front by 1 1/4 lengths, paying $4.40, $3 and $2.20 as the 6-5 favorite. The 8-1 Shermanesque held second by three-quarters of a length to return $7 and $4.20, completing the $25.80 exacta. Run Alex Run, the 5-2 second choice, gave back $2.80 to show as a clear third, resulting in a $75 trifecta. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Teuflesberg, who saved fourth by a nose over Pegasus Wind, rounding out the $535.80 superfecta (8-2-7-5). Chace City managed to finish a respectable sixth, followed by Elite Squadron (Officer) and Mister Cugat (King Cugat). Circular Quay more than quadrupled his earnings to $131,434 from his perfect two-for-two record. He had romped by 6 1/4 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden at Churchill in his debut. Bred in Kentucky by Doreen Tabor, the winner is the second registered foal from 1999 Spinaway S. (G1) queen Circle of Life (Belong to Me), who has since produced an unnamed yearling colt by Fusaichi Pegasus.
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