Wando, Canada's 2003 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown champion, defeated seven turf rivals in his first start as a 4-year-old at Keeneland Racecourse in Kentucky on Sunday. U.S.-based rider Edgar Prado was in the irons for the 1 1/16-mile tilt, a $67,000 allowance race run over a "firm" turf. The final time for the three-quarters of a length victory was 1:41.84. Woodbine regular Patrick Husbands was scheduled to ride Wando, but did not arrive in Lexington in time. "He ran huge," said trainer Mike Keogh, of his high-profile charge. "Edgar had a ton of horse. Wando was more or less dragging him around there." Owned by Gus Schickedanz, the chestnut won five races and recorded seven top-three finishes from eight starts last season. The colt went into this weekend's race with $2,379,700 in career earnings. He paid $7.40 for the victory as the second choice. Favored Miesque's Approval finished second, while longshot Pisces rallied for third. Shoal Water, owned by Sam-Son Farm, also contested the two-turn event, finishing fifth.
(Chart, Equibase)