Farish, Elkins and Webber’s ALUMNI HALL (A.P. Indy) parlayed a front-running
trip into a two-length score in Thursday’s $150,000
Ben Ali S. (G3), earning his
first graded stakes win when finishing the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:51 1/5 over the
fast Keeneland track. The six-year-old horse closely tracked pacesetter Ole Faunty (Quiet American) through splits of :24 and :48 3/5 before taking the
lead, and was never seriously challenged down the stretch by runner-up Pies
Prospect (Crafty Prospector). The winner was the third choice in the wagering
among three runners at 3-1 and paid $8.40, $3.40 and $2.80.
Alumni Hall provided Farish, trainer Neil Howard and jockey Robby Albarado
with a third straight victory in the Ben Ali, following in the hoofsteps of
Mineshaft and Midway Road. Elkins and Webber co-owned 2003 Horse of the Year
Mineshaft. Out of the stakes-winning Private Status (Alydar), Alumni Hall is a
full brother to 2000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose (G1) queen Secret
Status and has an unnamed yearling half-sister by Dixieland Band. He also owns
wins in the Maxxam Gold Cup H. and Black Tie Affair H. and has now earned
$386,571 from a 15-7-2-1 line.
Pies Prospect, the 3-1 favorite, returned $4.60 and $3.60 after finishing 8
1/2 lengths clear of Go Now (Go for Gin), who closed from last for third at 12-1
and paid $4.80. The exacta totaled $30.80, trifecta $220 and 4-2-8-3 superfecta,
with Colonial Colony (Pleasant Colony) in fourth, was good for $1,278.80.
Rounding out the order of finish were Ole Faunty, Best Minister (Deputy
Minister), Niigon (Unbridled) and Formal Attire (Formal Gold).
“He’s a wonderful horse,” Howard said. “Obviously, we’d like to win a Grade 1
with him.”
The June 18 Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill Downs is a possible target
for the Kentucky-bred Alumni Hall.