A Fine Chardonnay swallows up the competition in Myrtlewood

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Like a wine getting better with time, every second, every stride, down the Keeneland stretch, A Fine Chardonnay's chances of winning appeared better. Last down the backstretch, the filly uncorked a stout rally to win the $250,000 Myrtlewood Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Friday, penultimate day of the fall meet at Keeneland.

A Fine Chardonnay ($6.26) was coming off a victory in her debut, in which she was midpack in the field of 11, made a strong bid, and then cleared by two lengths, going this same six furlongs on Sept. 11 at Churchill Downs for Ian Wilkes. In a six-horse field full of speed on Friday, the Maclean's Music filly was simply outfooted early under Tyler Gaffalione. The duo was last - and five lengths behind the next-to-last horse in the pack - as longshot Storm Cloud Rising had a head in front of favored On Time Girl through the snappy opening quarter of 22.11 seconds.

On Time Girl forged her way to the lead by the quarter pole, and was keeping a challenging Woodstock at bay in the stretch. But A Fine Chardonnay swung five-wide into the stretch, and made up ground steadily, collaring the leader while confidently-handled by Gaffalione and opening a length at the wire.

"She likes to do her own thing early and I kind of left her alone, but by the time we got to the three-eighths pole she was well under herself and she’s got a really nice turn of foot," Gaffalione said. "I chirped at her about the three-eighths pole, and she perked up nicely. From then on I was pretty confident."

On Time Girl kept her neck in front of Woodstock to preserve the place.

The time for the six furlongs was 1:11.80 on the fast track on a sunny and brisk fall day.

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