Dawn of War wires Futurity

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dawn of War quieted a Keeneland crowd of 20,217 by leading all the way at 36-1 for a 3 1/2-length triumph Saturday in the 92nd running of the $500,000 at Keeneland.

The Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity unfolded in virtually the same manner as its sister race, the Alicibiades, which was won the previous day by She Says It Best. Dawn of War negated his far outside post with a sharp break, getting to the lead and the rail by the time the field sped into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile race.

"I thought if he could get to the lead, he would try all the way from there," said winning trainer Dale Romans.

Romans was right. Dawn of War, aggressively ridden by John Jacinto, never looked back, disposing of his closest pursuer, Laity, before easily finishing clear of a belated run from Catcominatcha, a 21-1 shot.

Stream Cat, the 7-2 second choice, finished third, another 3 1/4 lengths back, while Laity, who had defeated Dawn of War by nearly 12 lengths in their previous meeting, the Sept. 5 Cradle Stakes at River Downs, wound up fifth in a field of 12 2-year-olds.

The Breeders' Futurity was a major coup for Jacinto, who only last week left the current Louisiana Downs meet as the leading rider to try his hand at Keeneland.

"This is the biggest win I have ever had," said Jacinto, a 29-year-old native of Lima, Peru.

Dawn of War was bred and is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the Eclipse Award-winning owners of 2004. Dawn of War, by Catienus, made his debut in a $50,000 maiden-claiming race in June. Dawn of War now has 3 wins and 3 seconds from 6 career starts.

Dawn of War finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.77 over a track rated fast but one that played inordinately slow during the first two days of the fall meet. It was easily the slowest Breeders' Futurity since the race was lengthened to its current distance in 1981.

Romans, based primarily at Churchill Downs, said Dawn of War definitely would be pointed to the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

"This win shows he belongs," said Romans.

Laity, ridden by Corey Lanerie, had no apparent excuse. "At least I couldn't find any," said Lanerie.

Cool Creek, the 7-1 fourth choice who was making his first start after nine races in England and Ireland, was distanced when finishing last.

The 11-6 exacta paid $870.20 and the 11-6-5 trifecta paid $6,894.