Analyze It takes GIII Transylvania Stakes
LEXINGTON, KY (April 6, 2018) – William Lawrence’s Analyze It swept to the lead leaving the far turn and bounded away to a 5¼-length victory in the 30th running of the $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds before a Spring Meet opening-day crowd of 18,374 on a brisk Friday afternoon.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Analyze It covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as yielding in 1:45.60. Brown earned his 20th stakes victory at Keeneland and second in the race, having saddled Night Prowler in 2015.
Analyze It, who was making his 2018 debut, completed 2017 with a 4¼-length victory in the Cecil B. DeMille (G3) at Del Mar in November.
The victory was worth $90,000 and increased Analyze It’s earnings to $195,000 with a perfect three-for-three record. His four wins have come by a combined 15¾ lengths.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Analyze It is a Kentucky-bred son of Point of Entry out of the Consolidator mare Sweet Assay.
Longshot Beer Pressure shot out to an uncontested lead from the gate while Ortiz guided Analyze It into the three path from the outside post before the field reached the first turn.
Beer Pressure cut out fractions of :24.30 and :48.83 but by the time he had completed 6 furlongs in 1:15.21, the field was closing in. Analyze It and Dragon Drew swept past on the far turn with Analyze It quickly opening a daylight advantage and leaving the rest of the field in a chase for minor awards.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of 11, Analyze It returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.40. Captivating Moon, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $5.80 and $4.20 with Admiralty Pier finishing a nose back in third under Luis Saez and returning $5.40 to show.
Dragon Drew finished fourth another half-length back and was followed in order by Maraud, Tigers Rule, Funny Duck, Golden Dragon, King Valero, Tap Daddy and Beer Pressure.
Racing resumes Saturday with an 11-race program that features five graded stakes and is highlighted by the 94th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and the 81st running of the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), two major prep races for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1), respectively. First post time Saturday is 1:05 p.m. ET.
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A record $30,000 was awarded during Friday’s College Scholarship Day at Keeneland. Connor O’Brien of Boston and Laura Grueneberg of Louisville each won a $10,000 Runhappy Scholarship on their first visit here. The Runhappy Scholarship, first awarded during the 2016 Spring Meet, is presented by Jim and Linda McIngvale, owners of champion Runhappy, who stands at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
O’Brien is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, studying secondary education and social studies. He aspires to become a high school history teacher.
“I’ve always loved horse racing,” O’Brien said. “I’ve been to the Kentucky Oaks before; the Kentucky Derby is on my bucket list. Coming out here, enjoying the weather, having a good time with friends – that’s what I’m here for.”
Grueneberg is a senior in chemical engineering at UK, and already has accepted a full-time job as a software developer.
Making the check presentation was Claiborne’s Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager Bernie Sams.
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