Nitrogen, Think Big, Extra Anejo earn graded stakes victories 

Column Stables, Randall Bloch, Jand David Hall’s Positano Sunset split horses in deep stretch and went on to post a 1-length victory over favored Emery to win the 24th running of the $650,000 Resolute Racing Madison (G1) for fillies and mares Tuesday afternoon. 

Other graded stakes winners on the Toyota Blue Grass Day program were Nitrogen in the $500,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, Think Big in the $400,000 Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2) and Extra Anejo in the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3). The day’s 11-race card, which included the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1), was rescheduled from Saturday because of severe weather and significant rainfall in Central Kentucky.

In the Resolute Racing Madison, Emery and second choice Mystic Lake dueled through early fractions of :22.68 and :45.65 as Positano Sunset used a ground-saving trip behind the leaders under Julien Leparoux.

As the field bunched up at the top of the stretch, Emery dug in along the inside with Mystic Lake, Dazzling Move and My Mane Squeeze ranging up to her outside. Nearing the sixteenth pole, Leparoux moved Positano Sunset between Emery and Mystic Lake and gradually pulled away for her first graded stakes victory.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, who two races later would send out Burnham Square to win the Toyota Blue Grass, Positano Sunset completed the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.39.

Positano Sunset is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Goldencents out of the Consolidator mare Gigglin’ Gal. The victory was worth $397,963 and increased her earnings to $860,063.

Positano Sunset returned $30.62, $7.68 and $3.44. Emery, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $3.12 and $2.24 and finished 1¼ lengths ahead of My Mane Squeeze, who paid $3.48 to show under Manny Franco.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Mystic Lake with Dazzling Move and Justique following in order.

Nitrogen keys Casse exacta in Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association

D. J. Stable’s homebred Nitrogen swept to the lead in upper stretch and drew off for a 2¼-length victory over stablemate Vixen in the 37th running of the $500,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Nitrogen completed the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:37. It is the fourth Appalachian victory for Casse, whose other winners were Papilio (IRE) in 2023, La Coronel in 2017 and Catch a Glimpse in 2016.

Longshot Fast Market set unopposed fractions of :23.31 and :47.75 as Nitrogen raced in the clear in fifth. On the far turn, Nitrogen began to close in before moving five wide into the stretch where she quickly powered past Fast Market.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, Nitrogen posted her third consecutive victory and improved her record to 6-3-1-2 and hiked her earnings to $617,804 with Tuesday’s $302,250 check.

Favored in the field of seven, Nitrogen returned $4.40, $2.42 and $2.10. Vixen, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $2.82 and $2.28 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Fionn, who paid $3.08 to show under Luan Machado.

It was another neck back to Foxtastic with Totally Justified, Fast Market and Table Flirt following in order.

Think Big Stays perfect on the grass in winning Valvoline Global Shakertown

Godolphin’s homebred Think Big wore down Rogue Lightning (IRE) in deep stretch to win the 29th running of the $400,000 Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up.

Trained by Mike Stidham and ridden by Ben Curtis, Think Big covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:04.21.

The victory gave Godolphin its 26th Keeneland stakes triumph, tying Claiborne Farm for the most in track history.

Coppola raced off to a daylight lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.24 with Rogue Lightning in closest pursuit and Think Big racing in the clear in sixth.

Coppola held his lead into the stretch where he yielded to Rogue Lightning and a group of challengers as Think Big was making up ground widest of all. Think Big collared Rogue Lightning at the sixteenth pole and gradually pushed past some 20 yards from the finish.

Think Big is now unbeaten in three starts on the grass with Curtis aboard all three times. He is a 4-year-old gelded son of Twirling Candy out of the Street Sense mare Always Thinking. In winning his stakes debut, Think Big improved his record to 8-4-0-1 and increased his earnings to $355,285 with Tuesday’s $232,500 check.

Think Big returned $22.14, $10.06 and $6.84. Rogue Lightning returned $5.86 and $4.32 and finished 2½ lengths in front of Eamonn, who paid $8.44 to show under Edgard Zayas.

It was another half-length back to Our Shot, who was followed in order by Coppola, Run Carson, defending champion Arzak, Mischievous Rogue, Petcoff and Valentine Candy.

Extra Anejo overhauls favored Montalcino to win Commonwealth

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Extra Anejo wore down favored Montalcino in deep stretch to post a 1½-length victory in the 38th running of the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Flavien Prat, Extra Anejo covered 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.63.

Montalcino led the field of 11 through early fractions of :21.83 and :44.48 while Prat had Extra Anejo in the clear in sixth in the early going. Montalcino maintained a narrow advantage in the stretch over Hoist the Gold, spurted clear of that rival but could not hold off Extra Anejo.

Purchased for $1.35 million at Keeneland’s 2021 September Yearling Sale, Extra Anejo is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Hard Spun mare Superioritycomplex (IRE). The Commonwealth marked the first stakes victory for Extra Anejo and improved his record to 9-5-1-0.

The victory was worth $200,725 and boosted his earnings to $582,545.

Extra Anejo returned $10.14, $4.86 and $3.26. Montalcino, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.12 and $2.60 and finished 2 lengths in front of Hoist the Gold, who paid $3.02 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

It was another 4 lengths back to Epic Ride, who was followed in order by Ashcroft, Caramel Chip, Prince of Power, Nutella Fella, Best Actor, Here Mi Song and Surly Furious.

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On Tuesday, Keeneland set an all-time record handle of $414,099 in the late Pick 3, surpassing the previous record of $392,703 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day last year. 

Racing continues Wednesday with an eight-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Keeneland will offer a Super Hi 5 carryover of $32,121.