Havelock rallies to take Woodford

Silverton Hill's homebred gelding Havelock made it a sweep of Keeneland's

major grass sprints this year with an off-the-pace victory in Saturday's Grade

3, $150,000

Woodford.

Victorious in the April 13 Shakertown by a nose over the same 5 1/2-furlong

distance as the Woodford, Havelock's margin of victory was a cozier two lengths

here. However, a slow start resulted in Havelock conceding the leaders more than

10 lengths down the backside.

Still last of 10 turning for home, but chasing a quick, contested pace of :21

3/5 and :44 4/5, Havelock was shifted to the far outside by jockey Garrett Gomez

and kicked into high gear inside the final furlong. Swooping by all nine rivals,

Havelock burst to the front in the final yards and won geared down in a time of

1:03 on firm ground.

The 4-1 third choice, Havelock returned $10.60 to win.

Expecting Cash, who won for a $15,000 tag as recently as July 21, rallied

late to edge Spring to the Sky for second at odds of 24-1. It was 1 1/4 lengths

back to Stormofthecentury in fourth. Global Power, Tour Guide, Console, Ancil,

Pirates Vow, and 5-2 favorite Great Mills completed the order of finish.

This was the sixth career stakes win for Havelock, who also took the 2011

edition of the Woodford as well as the Play the King and the Arlington Sprint

that same year. He also added the Hanshin Cup to his stakes ledger in 2012 and

the aforementioned Shakertown last spring. His career mark now stands at

25-9-0-3, $619,514.

A son of Great Notion, the Maryland-bred was produced by the stakes-placed

Spectacular Love mare Piconeach.

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