James Garfield turns tables on Expert Eye in Greenham Stakes

The likeable colt James Garfield won the Group 3 Greenham Stakes on Saturday at Newbury and earned himself a start in the English 2000 Guineas next month at Newmarket.

James Garfield won by three-quarters of a length over the ballyhooed colt Expert Eye, whose performance continues to flag compared to his reputation. Expert Eye cane up lame after a poor showing as the heavy favorite in the Group 1 Dewhurst last fall, and, in his first start since, he was a bit washy, more than a bit headstrong, and in the end not quite good enough. Expert Eye’s sharp win in the Vintage Stakes last summer stamped him as potentially top class, and perhaps he needs something better than the good-to-soft ground he got Saturday, but the colt, a Khalid Abdullah homebred trained by Michael Stoute, has some ways to go to reach stardom.

As for James Garfield, he had a busy seven-start 2-year-old campaign highlighted by a win in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes and culminating in a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Saturday, always near the front under Frankie Dettori, James Garfield was asked for his best about a furlong and a half from home and finished willingly, stopping the timer in 1:26.98 for the seven furlongs. George Scott trains James Garfield, a son of Exceed and Excel and the Daylami mare Whazzat who might struggle to see out a one-mile distance at the Group 1 level.

A race before the Greenham, Dan’s Dream posted an upset in the Group 3 Fred Darling, a prep for the English 1000 Guineas. Under Silvestre De Silva, Dan’s Dream raced near the back of the field in the early going but came with a sustained run that carried her to a 1 1/4-length victory over Tajaanus, who won a photo over Dance Diva. Heavily favored Gavota made a mild bid before flattening out badly and finishing ninth. Dan’s Dream, who ran seven furlongs in 1:27.09, is a daughter of Cityscape and the Royal Applause mare Royal Ffanci trained by Mick Channon.

► The wonderful stayer Order of St. George faces just two rivals Sunday as he starts his 2018 campaign in the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in Ireland.