Electric Forest all the way in Doubledogdare Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Electric Forest seized command from the onset and never looked back Friday in a scratch-laden 25th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes at soggy Keeneland.

With Jose Ortiz riding for trainer Chad Brown, Electric Forest held a measured lead over Go Google Yourself as the field of five fillies and mares wheeled into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile Doubledogdare. That’s pretty much how they remained all the way to the wire, with Electric Forest prevailing by three-quarters of a length when finishing in 1:45.25 over a sloppy track.

The stakes win was the first in five career starts for Electric Forest, a 4-year-old Curlin filly bred and owned by Stonestreet Stables. She returned $6 as second choice in a field of five.

“She broke really sharp, and that helped me out a lot,” said Ortiz. “She relaxed down the backside, but then when the other filly came to me, I went all-out on her. Down the stretch, when the other filly was right there, she gave me another run. She ran a very good race.”

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Go Google Yourself, the 4-1 second choice, finished another five lengths before Promise of Spring, while Golden Award, the 17-10 favorite, had no mishap when fourth. Moonlit Garden brought up the rear.

Blue Prize, the program favorite who was withdrawn in favor of waiting for the Grade 1 La Troienne on May 3 at Churchill Downs, was one of four early scratches. The others were Jala Jala, La Force, and Eqho.

Ontrack attendance on a dank and chilly afternoon was 13,957.

The $2 exacta (3-7) paid $25.60 and the $1 trifecta (3-7-4) returned $33.90. There was no superfecta wagering with the short field.

Earlier on the card, Ortiz and Brown teamed with a potential star when Guarana ($3.60) won her career debut by an eye-popping 14 3/4 lengths, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.43. The 3-year-old Ghostzapper filly is owned by her breeders, Three Chimneys Farm.