Montalcino

5th-Fair Grounds, $54,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 2-22, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:08.97, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. MONTALCINO (c, 4, Take Charge Indy--Upstager, by Distorted Humor), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after an authoritative six-length tally over a furlong further Oct. 4 at Keeneland, showed abundant speed from the gate to win in a similar fashion under his regular pilot Jose Ortiz. The winner of his Sept. 1 seven-furlong unveiling at Saratoga was last seen in his local debut Nov. 28 when he was reeled in by the slimmest of...

Montalcino (c, 3, Take Charge Indy--Upstager, by Distorted Humor), a big-figure debut winner at Saratoga Sept. 1, backed up that effort with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in a first-level allowance for trainer Cherie DeVaux on the opening day of the Keeneland meeting Friday. Favored at even-money while receiving first-time Lasix here, the $410,000 OBS April breezer was hustled to the front from his inside draw and traveled nicely beneath Jose Ortiz while pressed through an opening quarter in :21.61. He began to give them the slip entering the far...