Santiva breaks maiden in Kentucky Jockey Club

Tom R. Walters' SANTIVA (Giant's Causeway), who had finished second

as a maiden in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, opened his

account in tenacious fashion in Saturday's $165,000

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Making his first

start for trainer Eddie Kenneally, the bay juvenile turned back

challenges from 3-5 favorite Astrology (A.P. Indy) on the outside and

7-2 second choice Major Gain (More Than Ready) to his inside to grind

out a workmanlike half-length decision.

Santiva was well placed in second by new rider Shaun Bridgmohan,

watching 40-1 longshot Prideofthechapter (Strong Hope) carve out splits

of :24 1/5 and :49. Bridgmohan decided to put the rank outsider away on

the far turn, and Santiva responded on cue to strike the front through

six furlongs in 1:14 1/5.

Meanwhile, Astrology had advanced from his stalking spot into second

on the outside. On the rail, Major Gain was mounting a bold rally,

unflinchingly, despite being in tight for several strides. Confronted on

both sides down the stretch, Santiva dug down gamely under pressure and

proved too tough for his Grade 3-winning opponents to pass. Santiva

completed 1 1/16 miles on the fast track in 1:45 1/5, paying $11.60,

$4.20 and $2.80 as the 9-2 third choice.

Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Astrology, commented on his colt's effort.

"We're disappointed he didn't win under those circumstances, but he's

learning," Asmussen said. "He's distracted so easily by stuff."

Santiva, who more than doubled his bankroll to $195,454 from his 4-1-2-1

line, has had nearly as many trainers as starts. He raced twice at Saratoga for

Ken McPeek. In his July 24 debut going 5 1/2 furlongs, he finished a green and

troubled third to Wine Police (Speightstown), the subsequent Hopeful S. (G1)

third, and Soldat (War Front), the eventual With Anticipation S. (G3) winner and

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) runner-up. Next time out in a 1 1/16-mile turf

maiden, Santiva reported home second to J. B.'s Thunder (Thunder Gulch).

Transferred to Todd Pletcher, Santiva tried the Breeders' Futurity, where he was

compromised by a bad start, yet closed well to play second fiddle to J. B.'s

Thunder once again.

Bred by Paget Bloodstock in Kentucky, Santiva is a full brother to Her

Majesty and a half-brother to Take Arms (Honour and Glory), both Grade 2-placed

as juveniles. They are out of the unraced Smarten mare Slide, who is a

half-sister to champion sprinter and $2.1 million earner Safely Kept (Horatius),

herself the dam of stakes winners Peace Chant (War Chant) and Contrast

(Unbridled). Another half-sibling is Grade 2-winning sire Partner's Hero (Danzig).