Transylvania

Amerman Racing Stables' CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant) closed determinedly to

win Friday's $150,000

Transylvania S. (G3) by a nose at the wire. The

opening-day feature at Keeneland drew a competitive field of eight

three-year-olds for the

one-mile grassy affair, but Jerry Bailey and Chattahoochee War made it an

exciting one when prevailing in a three-horse blanket finish. The colt

stopped the clock in 1:35 1/5, returning $8.60, $4.40 and $3.40 as the 3-1

second choice.

Content to sit off a contested pace up front set by Moth Ball (GB) (Royal

Applause [GB]) and even-money favorite Dubleo (Southern Halo), Chattahoochee War

ran fourth through fractions of :22 2/5, :45 3/5 and 1:09 4/5 for

six furlongs. Bailey asked his mount for his best turning for home, where they

were still fourth after seven-eighths in 1:22 1/5. The bay found another

gear inside the final furlong, driving home on the outside to just nip Guillaume

Tell (Ire) (Rossini) and jockey Rafael Bejarano, who was in turn a neck in front

of Rey de Cafe (Kingmambo). A claim of foul was lodged by Bejarano, but was

disallowed by the stewards.

The winner keyed exotics of $43 for the exacta, $152.20 for the trifecta and

$206.80 for the 3-1-4-7 superfecta. Guillaume Tell was worth $4.60 and $3.40 at

4-1, while Rey de Cafe gave back $3.40. They were followed by Dubleo, Moth Ball,

Ready Ruler (More Than Ready), Main Point (Lil's Lad) and B Trick (Phone Trick).

Cosmic Kris (Storm Creek) was withdrawn.

Chattahoochee War was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the first foal out

of Grade 3 heroine Buffalo Berry (Ire) (Sri Pekan). He counts

Mystic Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), an unraced two-year-old, as a half-brother and

has an unnamed yearling full brother. Chattahoochee War improves his mark to 5-3-0-0 with

earnings of $175,821, adding to a score in the Hill Rise S. in January.