Howard enjoys two-win Saturday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A day like Saturday at Keeneland isn’t the kind you’ll ever forget – even if you’re a trainer as accomplished as Neil Howard.

Before a near-record crowd of 38,863 on a perfect spring afternoon, Howard won the Saturday opener with Kentucky Oaks prospect Dream Dance, then won the Grade 3 Ben Ali some three hours later with a surging 4-year-old named Eagle.

“It’s cliché, but you really are always happy to win, especially on a big day like that at Keeneland,” Howard said Monday back at his Churchill Downs base.

Eagle was bred and is owned by Will Farish of Lane’s End Farm, for whom Howard trained Mineshaft to the 2003 Horse of the Year title.

“For me, personally, everything the Farishes and Lane’s End has done for me and my family, you’re just so thankful that you always want to reciprocate in any way you can,” said Howard.

Eagle reeled in the solo leader Noble Bird in the Ben Ali to win a graded stakes race for the first time. He earned a career-high 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He had some tough trips in New Orleans this winter, and it’s taken him a while to grow up,” said Howard. “He’s been going at it pretty steady now, and his form is holding up beautifully.”

Howard said Eagle could run next in the Grade 2 Alysheba on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks undercard or wait for the May 20 Pimlico Special.

“We’ll keep him eligible for everything,” he said.

Dream Dance, owned by Stoneway Farm, was along to win a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles in her second start of the year. Howard said the Afleet Alex filly will be considered for the Kentucky Oaks, particularly in light of the defection of heavily favored Songbird due to a fever.

“News like that, it weighs heavily on your mind,” said Howard, a 67-year-old Bronx, N.Y., native who has racked up nearly 1,200 wins and more than $50 million in purse earnings in a career dating to 1979. “You feel terrible for the Songbird folks. It really resonates. None of us are exempt from that kind of thing, having a horse get hurt or sick.”

For Dream Dance, “having that second start was imperative” to considering her for an Oaks run, Howard said. “We’re going to watch her close and make a determination in due course. The filly isn’t very big, but she’s tough.”