7th-KEE, $74,000, Msw, 4-6, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:18.11, ft.
ALMITHMAAR (g, 3, Tapit&log=">Tapit–Gotta Have Her {MGSW & MGISP, $1,132,608}, by Royal Academy) missed by just a head in his Gulfstream unveiling Mar. 4 and went one better this time with a front-running graduation on Keeneland's opening day. Seizing the early advantage, the 2-1 shot ticked off early fractions of :22.17 and :45.75 under Eclipse winner Jose Ortiz with several rivals in hot pursuit. Turning for home in front, the $625,000 KEESEP purchase was briefly challenged by favored D Squared (Speightstown), but swiftly shut the door on the rival and rolled clear to score by 1 3/4 lengths. Longshot Just Like Richie (Divine Park) and $925,000 KEESEP purchase Corot (Pioneerof the Nile) came running on late to finish second and third, respectively. D Squared settled for fourth. Almithmaar's dam Gotta Have Her won give graded stakes and placed twice at the highest level for earnings over $1.1 million during her career on the track for Green Lantern Stables. The gray gelding is the most recent foal out of the 14-year-old mare, who RNA'd for $1.05 million at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The winner hails from the family of French Highweight and MG1SW sire Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal); and MGSWs Lady Blessington (Fr) (Baillamont) and Da Big Hoss (Lemon Drop Kid). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $53,860. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Shadwell Stable; B-Green Lantern Stables LLC (KY); T-Kiaran McLaughlin.
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