River City

Mill House's AMERICA ALIVE (American Chance) uncorked a late outside run in

the final furlong of the $167,700

River City H. (G3) at Churchill Downs on

Sunday to put himself a nose up on G P Fleet (Northern Afleet) at the wire. The

Neil Howard-trained America Alive was content to sit near the back of the pack

while Shaniko (A.P. Indy) took up front-running duties in his first turf start,

leading through pedestrian splits of :25, :50 and 1:14 1/5. He relinquished the

lead in the stretch to G P Fleet, who held the advantage briefly before coming

up a nose shy to America Alive. The four-year-old chestnut completed 1 1/8 miles

on the firm sod in 1:50 3/5 under jockey Robby Albarado and returned $5, $2.60

and $2.20 as the 3-2 favorite.

G P Fleet left the gate at 5-1 to give back $4.60 and $4, completing the $29

exacta. Shaniko held on to third a neck farther back and paid $4 at 5-1 while

ending a $191.20 trifecta. Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]) rounded out the

$284.90 superfecta ($1). Gallo Del Bar (Chi) (Barkerville), Fort Prado (El Prado

[Ire]), Seeking Answers (Ire) (Shinko Forest) and On the Acorn (GB) (Inchinor

[GB]) completed the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, America Alive is out of the Grade 3-placed

Alydar mare Alive with Hope, who has also produced a an unraced two-year-old

colt named Best Years (Pulpit) and an unnamed weanling filly by Langfuhr.

America Alive has captured two other stakes races this season, including the

Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) in May. He now sports a record of 20-8-3-3

with $793,767 in earnings.