Beckford launches dazzling surge in William Walker
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Salmanazar appeared to have the race wrapped up, until a blur named Beckford launched a sensational run to prevail Saturday night in the fourth running of the $100,000 William Walker as Churchill Downs opened its 38-day spring meet under the lights.
Favored at 3-2 in the five-furlong turf race, Beckford and jockey Julien Leparoux were ahead of just one horse when turning for home before they somehow overhauled Salmanazar and jockey Corey Lanerie in the final yards to win by three-quarters of a length. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Masked in third in the field of eight 3-year-olds.
“It was impressive, huh?” trainer Brendan Walsh said afterward. “He put in an unreal piece of work here last Sunday. He’s some kind of horse, I do believe. We’ll go back and think about maybe stretching him out off this, but just winning in this fashion was fantastic.”
Beckford, a British-bred colt by Bated Breath, returned $5 after finishing five furlongs in 57.28 seconds over a firm course. He got a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort.
The colt was making his first start since a close-up fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November for his previous trainer, Gordon Elliott.
The $2 exacta (7-1) paid $18.80, the $1 trifecta (7-1-5) returned $32.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-1-5-2) was worth $68.24.
The Walker, named for the jockey who won the 1877 Kentucky Derby aboard Baden-Baden, had been a six-furlong dirt race since first being run as the spring meet opener in 2015. Small fields for each of those first three runnings led track officials to switch it to turf.
There is no racing here Sunday. Live action resumes Tuesday with a first post of 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
