Analyze It shows new dimension in Transylvania romp

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Analyze It was really good at 2. He might be even better at 3.

Wowing the 18,374 on hand for the opener of the 16-day Keeneland spring meet, Analyze It sped off to a 5 1/4-length victory in the feature race, the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes, stamping himself as the apparent pro-tem leader among 3-year-old turf horses in North America. Captivating Moon was up for second in the field of 11, a nose ahead of Admiralty Pier.

“When I asked him to go, he went so well, so smooth,” said Jose Ortiz, who was aboard Analyze It for owner William H. Lawrence and trainer Chad Brown. “He’s a really, really nice horse.”

Analyze It returned $3.60 as the heavy favorite after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.60 over a turf course rated yielding.

Reserved in third early, well off a fast pace set by 117-1 shot Beer Pressure and always in a good spot, Analyze It moved to the lead without urging leaving the quarter-pole. He quickly separated himself from the pack before being given one smack by Ortiz to his right flank and another on his right shoulder to keep his momentum going. The impressive score kept the bay colt unbeaten in three starts and confirmed the form he put on display last year in winning a maiden race at Belmont Park in late October and the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar in late November.

“All options are on the table with him, but it’d be hard for me to keep my eye off the Belmont Derby,” said Brown, referring to the Grade 1, $1.2 million turf race on July 7 at Belmont Park.

Analyze It, a Kentucky-bred colt from the first crop of the young sire Point of Entry, made the lead in his first two wins, but he settled perfectly in the early going for Ortiz behind a run-off leader in the Transylvania.

“He broke well, and I made him relax into the first turn,” said Ortiz. “He relaxed very well for me.”

Behind the top three, Dragon Drew was fourth, another half-length behind Admiralty Pier, while Maraud, the 5-2 second choice, had no apparent mishap when finishing fifth. Beer Pressure faded badly to finish last. Determinant was the lone scratch from an original lineup of 12.

The $2 exacta (12-8) paid $19.80, the $1 trifecta (12-8-5) returned $51.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (12-8-5-4) was worth $34.11.

Analyze It was among four winning favorites on the day and the third winner for Ortiz. Just four jockeys accounted for the entire 10-race card: Gabriel Saez also rode three winners, while Florent Geroux and Corey Lanerie each had two.

Weather conditions were fairly pleasant Friday, with a high temperature of about 62, but officials, horsemen, and fans all were bracing for an overnight storm that was expected to bring rain, snow, and freezing temperatures leading into Saturday, the biggest day of the meet. The Blue Grass Stakes is one of five straight stakes (races 6-10) on an 11-race card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern.