Calumet Strikes Again: Tennessee Lamb Takes Ben Ali

Lexington residents traveling down Versailles Road to Keeneland see neighboring Calumet Farm on their way, and they have seen the farm's impact on the sport at the historic track just as much in recent days. A day after a 38-1 surprise from the Brendan Walsh-trained Gin Gin in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G3), Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm followed that with another score April 19 in the $348,750 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) with the Rusty Arnold-trained Tennessee Lamb. Jose Ortiz was aboard both homebreds. In victory, Arnold tied Hall of Famer Bill Mott as the winningest trainer in Keeneland history with 307 wins. Though Tennessee Lamb's victory at 7-2 odds in the Ben Ali did not surprise the public, he did not appear a likely winner in midstretch. After pressing the pace early and moving up to take the lead on the second turn of the race, he was passed in the stretch by a surging Uno Mas Bourbon. With that one opening up an advantage, Tennessee Lamb looked headed to a runner-up finish. But Uno Mas Bourbon's bid stalled late in the 1 3/16-mile Ben Ali, and a resurgent Tennessee Lamb prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over runner-up San Siro, who gained ground after rating just behind the leaders early. Ortiz said his mount was too keen early for his liking, but with about a half-mile remaining in the race, "he took a deep breath—whoosh—and then I was very happy to feel that underneath me. After that, he did the rest." Uno Mas Bourbon weakened to third, a neck behind the runner-up. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said he thought he was "home free" on Uno Mas Bourbon and, "Then inside the eighth pole, for some reason, he jumped back to his left lead and it just kind of gassed him." The winner was clocked in 1:59 on a fast track following splits of :23.40 and :47.70 set by Prince of Power, and later a six-furlong split of 1:12.65 by the winner. Tennessee Lamb paid $9.74 for a $2 win wager. A 4-year-old son of Tonalist, Tennessee Lamb is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee Lamb is the second stakes winner this year for Tonalist, following the success of Lightning Tones in the Sunshine Classic Stakes this winter. Tonalist, the 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner, stands at Lane's End in Central Kentucky for $10,000. Just a Touch Shines on Undercard Running faster than the Ben Ali competitors was Just a Touch, who romped by seven lengths in the eighth race, a $130,000 allowance optional claimer. Last year's runner-up in both the Gotham (G3) and Blue Grass (G1) stakes, Just a Touch raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.34. (The 1 1/8-mile split of the Ben Ali, established by then-leader Uno Mas Bourbon, was 1:51.99.) The win was his second in as many starts this year for Just a Touch, who returned $2.96 to win Saturday's race. He went to the sidelines last year after a runner-up finish in last summer's Iowa Derby. That followed a last-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Earlier this year, the Brad Cox trainee captured a first-level allowance March 1 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots by 10 1/2 lengths. The 4-year-old son of Justify races for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel.