Dark Cove romps in Elkhorn, caps epic meet for connections

On the final turn, Dark Cove launched his bid, easily overtook Ioya Bigtime,

and reached the 1 1/4-mile mark in 2:06 3/5. The six-year-old son of Medaglia

d'Oro belied his class and distance concerns by opening up down the stretch.

Under wraps and gearing down, Dark Cove coasted home a 4 1/4-length winner and

completed 1 1/2 miles in 2:30 4/5.

Dark Cove handed Rosario his 38th win during the spring meet, one day after

he broke Randy Romero's mark of 32, in a smashing first season riding at

Keeneland full-time.

The Ramseys were winning their eighth career graded stakes at Keeneland, and

accordingly earned a gold tray for the milestone. They are the 18th owners to

reach this threshold.

The Elkhorn also ranked as their 24th win of the meet, doubling the old

spring record of 12 established by the legendary Calumet Farm in 1941 (and

equaled in the fall of 1968 by the Robertses). The Ramseys padded their record

in the nightcap, with Tuscan Treasure scoring their 25th win.

Dark Cove's resume now reads 22-7-2-1, $332,510. Originally claimed from

owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito for just $16,000 in his third start,

he promptly won three in a row for a partnership organized by trainer Ken McPeek.

Dark Cove was unplaced in his first two stakes attempts in the 2010 Commonwealth

Turf and 2011 Ft. Lauderdale, but subsequently got up for third in the Colonial

Turf Cup. After a trio of sixths in the aforementioned John's Call, Hollywood

Gold Cup and Washington Park Handicap, he was spelled for six months.

Upon his return in 2012, Dark Cove was given class relief in starter

allowances, but ultimately slid down for the tag and was haltered by the Ramseys

and Maker. He resurfaced in January at Fair Grounds after an eight-month layoff,

finishing fourth for a $40,000 tag in an optional claimer. Dark Cove won next

time out at the $40,000 claiming level going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at

Gulfstream Park, but settled for second at the $50,000 level in his latest on

March 7.

Dark Cove was bred by Stonewall Farm Stallions in Kentucky and sold twice at

Keeneland -- for $120,000 as a November weanling and $155,000 as a September

yearling. Out of the Kris S. mare Crystal Cove, the bay comes from the family of

Grade 3 winners Better Now, River Squall and Heavenly Landing, and further back,

Australian Group 2 victor Churchill Downs.

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