Can Group ($56.34) noses Noted in Bourbon Stakes upset

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Can Group was up over Noted at the wire for a nose win in the Grade 2, $350,000 Bourbon Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday evening on the Keeneland turf.

Can Group ($56.34) earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita with his victory in this race, part of the "Win and You're In" program.

The Bourbon was one of two turf stakes on Keeneland’s Sunday card for 2-year-olds - and both were decided by a nose, in upset fashion, as Committee of One ($17.34) edged favored Amidst Waves in the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes. The Indian Summer was inaugurated in 2018 alongside and as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, although it is not an automatic qualifier.

Can Group is trained by Mark Casse for D. J. Stable and Cash Is King LLC, in partnership. After two third-place finishes in two dirt sprints to start his career, the colt broke his maiden in his turf debut, rallying to win by 2 1/2 lengths going seven furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 2. Due to the undulating course with uphill portions at Kentucky Downs, a distance such as seven furlongs often plays more like a mile or longer - placing the 1 1/16 miles of the Bourbon within the colt's wheelhouse as he moved forward.

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Can Group needed every inch of that extra ground to pull off his win. He was last of 12 after six furlongs under Francisco Arrieta, although less than six lengths covered the entire field with the pressing Double Your Money putting a head in front of pacesetter Fortune Seller at that point. Double Your Money clawed his way to a half-length lead in upper stretch, as the stalking First World War, the post-time favorite, and Vote No made their bids.

Meanwhile Noted, moving back to turf after a win in the Sapling Stakes at a mile on the Monmouth dirt, had been shuffled from his stalking position back to seventh as the closers made their initial runs, but fanned to the six path for clear sailing and briefly took the lead. Can Group was even wider, and easily passing horses. He hit a new gear in the final yards to get up for the win.

“When I moved and he saw the leaders, he just took off and, wow, it was amazing,” Arrieta said. “I felt like I crossed the wire in front. He was rolling. I won with him at Kentucky Downs, and he came from off the pace very nice, slow, so today I planned the same. Relax, give him time and make one move, and he showed up.”

Fractional and final times were not available for the race on the turf course rated firm.

After the top two, it was just a length to Vote No, who nosed out First World War by a half-length for third. Rounding out the order of finish were Tok Tok, Depiction, Palm Tree, Double Your Money, Coin Miner, Gorilla Trek, Fortune Seller, and Nomos.

Earlier on the card, Committee of One, with Cristian Torres in the irons, was seventh with a quarter-mile remaining, and ran down favored Amidst Waves for his nose victory in the Indian Summer.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled the Indian Summer winner for the second year in a row, had confidence in Committee of One, owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, even through the colt came into his stakes debut still a maiden after two prior starts. He was up for the place in his first start at Ellis Park, then was beaten just half a length when second on Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs.

"He’s a lovely horse who’s getting better," Asmussen said. "I thought Cristian gave him a wonderful trip today, and when he pulled him out and asked him to accelerate, he looked very good to the wire."

The filly Amidst Waves, who was previously unbeaten on turf, including two stakes wins, held second by a neck over Shards.

"She broke a little slow, and I kind of had to work my way through," jockey John Velazquez said. "Got out in time – the other horse had the momentum on me. I think that was the difference."

The final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.40.

After Shards in third, it was four lengths back to Cowes, followed by Fairhopecurly, Bledsoe, Sponge Bath, Riparound, Pinotslilgirl, and Candymaker to complete the order of finish.

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