All Squared Away, 70-1, Stuns Lexington

All Squared Away, 70-1, Stuns Lexington
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
All Squared Away comes home strong to win the Coolmore Lexington.
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The longest shot on the board at 70-1, All Squared Away pulled a massive upset in the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. III) (VIDEO) when he overtook Hammers Terror late to win by 1 1/2 lengths April 21 at Keeneland.

Moved from the barn of co-owner Pete Miller to Wesley Ward after a sixth-place finish in the March 24 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park, the 3-year-old son of Bellamy Road   took advantage of a quick early pace and stormed down the center of the track under Julio Garcia to earn his first stakes win.

Owned by Miller's Altamira Racing Stable and Wire to Wire Racing, All Squared Away was bought for just $1,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall 2010 yearling sale. He was consigned by Crossroads Sales Agency, agent. The dark bay/brown gelding was bred in Kentucky by Gracefield Breeders and is out of the Posse mare Squared.

Since moving into Ward’s barn from his previous base at Hollywood Park, All Squared Away breezed once on the Keeneland Polytrack, that coming on April 13. Ward was pleased with the initial work and though he didn't predict a win, was optimistic going into the race.

"Since the horse got here, as most do when they come to Keeneland, the horse just flourished," Ward said. "He just put a lot of weight on. He’s eaten the bottom out of the feed tub. When we worked him, the last couple of works have just been outstanding. He’s just thriving, being here.”

All Squared Away raced in fourth in the early going as Johannesbourbon and Southwest (gr. III) winner Castaway dueled through quick opening splits—they ran :23.21 for the first quarter and :46.54 for a half-mile. Hammers Terror sat just behind the pacesetters, with All Squared Away sitting perfectly just behind him.

Johannesbourbon came off the final turn holding a slim lead, but Hammers Terror took over just beyond the eighth pole and carried the lead in upper stretch. But he began tiring in the late stages, while All Squared Away was in an ideal position to pick him off for the shocker.

The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.55. Favored Summer Front rallied late to get second under Ramon Dominguez in his season debut. They were a neck in front of 18-1 Hammers Terror and Robby Albarado. Gold Megillah was fourth in a field of 11 sophomores.

“My idea was to go very close to the pace," Garcia said. "I rode this horse in the morning, and I knew he was going to run a good race today. I got confused a little bit; I didn’t know which wire, the first or the second. So after the wire Johnny V (Velazquez, on Gold Megillah) told me, ‘Julio, the first wire!’ Like, I know, it’s OK. I win anyway.”

All Squared Away was winless in four starts as a juvenile, all in maiden claiming events, finally breaking his maiden in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 22 at Golden Gate Fields. He was then seventh in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III), runner-up in a first-level allowance at Santa Anita, and sixth in the Spiral at 69-1.

With the win he improved to 2-2-2 from nine starts and earnings of $164,180.

“I’m really thankful to Pete Miller for giving me the opportunity to train, especially from a trainer," Ward said.

All Squared Away paid $143.20, $45.80, and $17. His win price broke the stakes-record payoff of $83 established by Slew’s Tizzy in 2007. The exacta (9-2) returned $842 and the trifecta (9-2-8) was worth $7,998.60. The superfecta (9-2-8-11) paid a whopping $95,199.

Golden Ticket finished fifth, followed by Holiday Promise, Johannesbourbon, Skyring, Castaway, News Pending, and Morgan's Guerrilla. 

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