Tennessee Lamb re-rallies to win Ben Ali

Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable’s homebred Utah Beach collared Limited Liability at the sixteenth pole and then outdueled that foe to prevail by a head and win the 40th running of the $400,000 VisitLEX Elkhorn (G2) for 4-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon.

Immediately following the VisitLEX Elkhorn, Calumet Farm’s homebred Tennessee Lamb took top honors in the 94th running of the $350,000 Ben Ali (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.

Trained by Ignacio Correas IV and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, Utah Beach completed the mile and a half on a firm turf course in 2:29.78 in the VisitLEX Elkhorn.

Idratherbeblessed took the lead out of the gate and raced through an opening quarter-mile in :24.25, but by the time the field reached the finish line for the first time Frankie Dettori had sent Limited Liability past seven runners and into the lead after a half-mile in :50.09.

While Limited Liability was controlling the pace, Utah Beach was getting a ground-saving trip from Cheminaud as he inched his way toward the front. At the top of the stretch, Utah Beach moved off the rail and went after Limited Liability.

Utah Beach drew even at the sixteenth pole and finally pulled clear in deep stretch.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of English Channel out of the Lasting Approval mare My Own Story, Utah Beach notched his first stakes victory. Now 14-4-5-1 in his career, Utah Beach has earned $536,265 including Saturday’s $226,300 check.

Utah Beach returned $25.40, $10.16 and $6.86. Limited Liability returned $5.36 and $3.70 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Anglophile, who paid $6.52 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Rebel Red (GB) with Verstappen, Grand Sonata, Ole Crazy Bone, favored Missed the Cut, Balnikhov (IRE), Idratherbeblessed, Dean Martini and Starting Over following in order.

Tennessee Lamb re-rallies to win Ben Ali

In the Ben Ali, Tennessee Lamb made his stakes debut a memorable one as he battled back in the stretch to overtake Uno Mas Bourbon and then hold off San Siro by 1½ lengths.

Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Tennessee Lamb completed the 1 3/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:59. With the victory, Arnold moved into a tie with Bill Mott for the most wins all time at Keeneland with 307.

Arnold also won Race 4 with Calumet’s Fixin to Bee.

The Ben Ali triumph gave Calumet and Ortiz a second stakes victory in two days coming on the heels of Gin Gin’s score in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3) at odds of 38-1.

Prince of Power led the field of seven through fractions of :23.40 and :47.70 with Tennessee Lamb tracking in second. Going into the final turn, Ortiz sent Tennessee Lamb to the front with Uno Mas Bourbon moving right behind him.

Uno Mas Bourbon took over at the top of the stretch only to have Tennessee Lamb battle back to inside and regain the lead at the sixteenth pole and pull away.

Tennessee Lamb is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Tonalist out of the Smart Strike mare Tennessee Whiskey. Now 11-3-2-0 in his career, Tennessee Lamb picked up $211,575 for the victory to boost his earnings to $381,351.

Tennessee Lamb returned $9.74, $4.88 and $3.42. San Siro, ridden by Edgar Morales, returned $3.92 and $2.86 and finished a neck in front of Uno Mas Bourbon, who paid $3.22 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

It was another 3½ lengths back to Time for Trouble, who was followed in order by Piroli, Prince of Power and Duke of Love.

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Keeneland is closed for racing tomorrow for Easter. The final three days of the Spring Meet start Wednesday with an eight-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.