Broadway View barely gets first turf victory

Broadway View made his first turf victory a rewarding one when he held off a late-charging America Alive to win the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Turf by a nose Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by John McKee, Broadway View, an 18-1 shot, charged to a short lead in midstretch of the $171,150 Commonwealth, a 1 1/16-mile turf race restricted to 3-year-olds, and barely lasted. America Alive, an 11-1 shot ridden by Eddie Martin Jr., finished another 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Capo in a field of 10.

Broadway View, a Broad Brush colt owned by Live Oak Plantation and trained by Nick Zito, returned $39.60 after finishing in 1:44.75 over firm turf. The victory was his first in six turf starts and fourth of 17 overall.

Cool Conductor, the even-money favorite under Jose Santos, was never a threat and finished ninth.

The Commonwealth was part of a big day for Zito, who also won the last race with a promising first-time-starting 2-year-old filly, Bird Harbor.