Ariege takes Beaumont

Bobby Frankel and Garrett Gomez did it again. For the second straight day, the trainer-jockey team won a Grade 2 stakes at Keeneland when Ariege stormed to victory Thursday in the $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes.

Frankel and Gomez won the Wednesday feature, the Grade 2 Vinery Madison, when Ventura rallied from the back of the pack. This time, it was a rail run from Ariege, a Doneraile Court filly coming off a victory in the Santa Anita Oaks.

"I was really liking my position down the backside," said Gomez. "I tried to get out a couple times but couldn't, so I knew I was going to have to wait for her to make an explosive move. She really responded to what I needed her to do."

Ariege, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, returned $8.40 as second choice in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Eighth until the quarter pole, albeit only a few lengths off the lead, she stayed nearest the rail launching a sensational run down the stretch, winning by a length over Golden Doc A, the 2-1 favorite. Passion, who led most of the way, finished third, and Keep the Peace was fourth.

Ariege, owned by the IEAH Stables, finished the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in 1:25.81 over Polytrack. The victory was her third in seven career starts.

The one-two results were the same as in the March 8 Santa Anita Oaks. The logical next race for Ariege and Golden Doc A could be the May 2 Kentucky Oaks, although Frankel said he was not ready to commit to that.

Two races earlier, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out Charming ($5), a $3.2 million yearling purchase for James Scatuorchio, to a neck victory in her career debut. Charming is a 3-year-old filly by Seeking the Gold out of Take Charge Lady, the only horse in Keeneland history to win the Alcibiades, Ashland, and Spinster.

Pletcher also won the only 2-year-old race of the day when Garden District ($14) rallied up the rail to win the fourth race by three lengths.

Ontrack attendance was 8,726.