Sterwins rolls in Ben Ali

Sterwins rolls in Ben Ali

Melnyk Racing Stables' homebred STERWINS (Runaway Groom) was last early,

rallied four-wide into the stretch and stormed home a convincing 3 1/4-length

winner in the $150,000

Ben Ali S. (G3) at Keeneland on Sunday. The gray gelding, who

was making his debut on a synthetic surface, clocked the nine-furlong feature on

the Polytrack in 1:48 2/5 as the 13-1 longest price on the board beneath Shaun

Bridgmohan. The Malcolm Pierce trainee keyed the $62.60 exacta, $177.60 trifecta

and $407.40 superfecta (1-2-5-7) while rewarding backers with mutuels of $28.80,

$7.20 and $4.

It's a Bird (Birdonthewire) went right to the front and set splits of :24

1/5, :48 1/5 and 1:11 4/5 for the opening six panels, but could not quicken to

keep up with his driving rivals. Go Between (Point Given), the prohibitive 1-2

favorite, was well placed approaching the final turn and had the only chance

with the winner, but ultimately had to settle for the place spot while being no

match late. The runner-up gave back $2.40 and $2.10. Sir Whimsey (Jump Start),

the 4-1 second choice, could not accelerate with the top duo but stayed on well

along the inside to garner show honors, good for $3. Leonnatus Anteas (Stormy

Atlantic) pressed the early leader but never kicked turning for home, finishing

fourth, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of It's a Bird, while Mayan King (Stephen Got Even)

brought up the rear. Crossword (A.P. Indy) was withdrawn.

From a 17-6-4-3 career line, the Canadian-bred five-year-old has amassed

$552,726 in earnings, which includes wins in the With Approval S. and Buddy

Diliberto Memorial H. and placings in a trio of graded events, most notably a

second in the 2007 Sky Classic S. (Can-G2).

Sterwins is the second foal out of Sweet Vale (Wild Again) and has an unraced

two-year-old half-sister named Sweet Home Gap (Graeme Hall), as well as an

unnamed yearling full brother. His second dam, Unacceptable (Irish Tower),

captured the 1994 Astoria S. (G3).