Strathnaver keeps record-setting Rosario on a roll in Bewitch

Strathnaver keeps record-setting Rosario on a roll in

Bewitch

Andrew Stone's Strathnaver had mostly plied her trade in handicaps in her

native England. Although the Oasis Dream filly was stepping up in both class and

distance here, she had scored impressively in her American debut at Gulfstream

Park. Rosario engineered her rallying victory in that March 16 allowance, where

she equaled the course record of 1:56.39 for 1 3/16 miles on turf, and evidently

liked her enough to keep faith with her at Keeneland.

Gathering, the slight 2-1 favorite, proved a handful on the early lead. As

Rosie Napravnik tried to get her to relax, Gathering was eager to go through

fractions of :24 2/5, :48 4/5 and 1:13 on the firm turf. Scampering pressed the

pace, followed by Alaura Michele and Dynarama. The top four pulled clear of the

rest of the field, with Strathnaver, fellow Stone colorbearer Qushchi and 2-1

second choice Regalo Mia all prominent in the chasing group.

Scampering drew to within a half-length of Gathering at the mile mark in 1:38

3/5, and put her head in front through 1 1/4 miles in 2:05. But both were spent

by then, and in the process of being inhaled by Regalo Mia. Darting through

along the rail turning into the stretch, Regalo Mia made an eye-catching move

and took command.

Meanwhile, Stone's duo of Qushchi and Strathnaver were taking the overland

route into contention. Strathnaver was hung out widest of all, but summoned the

best turn of foot to collar Regalo Mia. Briefly tightening up Qushchi during her

triumphant finish, Strathnaver edged one length clear of Regalo Mia in a final

time of 2:30 3/5 for 1 1/2 grassy miles.

"Every decision means a lot when you are (close to winning). On another day,

if we had differed in paths and decisions it might have been a reverse (finish).

But still we competed against a very nice (winner) today."

Kissable closed from far back for fourth, and Alaura Michele checked in

fifth. Motion's other runner, Team Valor International and Robert LaPenta's

Angegreen, ran evenly in sixth. Rounding out the order of finish were

Scampering, And Why Not, Gathering, Dynarama and Revelstoke. Charming She Is was

scratched.

Napravnik commented on Gathering's disappointing show.

"She was very good in the (starting) gate, which is probably the worst thing

that happened," Napravnik said. "She broke so sharp that she wouldn't relax. We

had quite a bit of pressure on the front end, so she got pretty tired at the

end."

Strathnaver's first career stakes coup boosted her bankroll to $133,336 from

an 11-4-1-0 record. Trained by Ed Dunlop in England, the bay broke her maiden

over Lingfield's Polytrack at third asking as a juvenile. She won once at three

last season, taking a handicap on the Lingfield turf, and she placed in a

Goodwood handicap. Strathnaver tried stakes company in her final British outing

last November, but was outclassed when eighth in the Gillies Fillies' Stakes at

Doncaster.

Bred by Mrs. C.R. Philipson and Mrs. H.G. Lascelles in Great Britain,

Strathnaver sold for $383,888 as a Tattersalls October yearling. She is a

half-sister to Siyaadah, winner of the 2010 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas and

third in the U.A.E. Oaks. Their dam, Grade 2 heroine River Belle, by Lahib, is

in turn a half-sister to Italian classic-placed stakes winner Kiralik.

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