Mill House’s AMERICA ALIVE (American Chance) uncorked a late outside run in
the final furlong of the $167,700
River City H. (G3) at Churchill Downs on
Sunday to put himself a nose up on G P Fleet (Northern Afleet) at the wire. The
Neil Howard-trained America Alive was content to sit near the back of the pack
while Shaniko (A.P. Indy) took up front-running duties in his first turf start,
leading through pedestrian splits of :25, :50 and 1:14 1/5. He relinquished the
lead in the stretch to G P Fleet, who held the advantage briefly before coming
up a nose shy to America Alive. The four-year-old chestnut completed 1 1/8 miles
on the firm sod in 1:50 3/5 under jockey Robby Albarado and returned $5, $2.60
and $2.20 as the 3-2 favorite.
G P Fleet left the gate at 5-1 to give back $4.60 and $4, completing the $29
exacta. Shaniko held on to third a neck farther back and paid $4 at 5-1 while
ending a $191.20 trifecta. Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]) rounded out the
$284.90 superfecta ($1). Gallo Del Bar (Chi) (Barkerville), Fort Prado (El Prado
[Ire]), Seeking Answers (Ire) (Shinko Forest) and On the Acorn (GB) (Inchinor
[GB]) completed the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky by his owners, America Alive is out of the Grade 3-placed
Alydar mare Alive with Hope, who has also produced a an unraced two-year-old
colt named Best Years (Pulpit) and an unnamed weanling filly by Langfuhr.
America Alive has captured two other stakes races this season, including the
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) in May. He now sports a record of 20-8-3-3
with $793,767 in earnings.