Keeneland: Unbelievable Dream takes Appalachian; Rosario wins five on day

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jockey Joel Rosario capped a sensational Thursday afternoon at Keeneland by guiding Unbelievable Dream to a last-to-first victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Appalachian Stakes.

After Rosario bided his time early, Unbelievable Dream came absolutely rolling to be up in the final strides of the one-mile turf race by a half-length over Overheard. Eden Prairie was third, while Watsdachances, the 3-5 favorite in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies, could do no better than fourth in her seasonal debut.

Unbelievable Dream, a New York-bred daughter of Kitalpha, returned $11.80 as second choice after finishing in 1:37.91 over a firm turf course. Barclay Tagg trains the chestnut filly for the Sure Thing Stables of Michael McGuire.

The victory gave Rosario - the 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who is riding regularly here for the first time - his fifth win from his seventh and final mount of the nine-race card. The Keeneland record for most wins on a day is six. Rosario now has a commanding lead atop the jockey standings at the 16-day Keeneland spring meet, which ends April 26.

Unbelievable Dream trailed for much of the way before kicking into high gear nearing the quarter-mile.

“I was really worried,” said Rosario. “Barclay told me she likes to come from out of it, that’s what she wants to do. She put in a really good run. She was very impressive. That was awesome.”

Watsdachances, racing for the first time since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall, had no major mishap, although she was squeezed between rivals when trying to rally in the vicinity of the eighth pole.

Ontrack attendance on a warm, breezy afternoon was 11,551.

The $2 exacta (2-5) paid $74, the $1 trifecta (2-5-6) returned $268.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-5-6-4) was worth $99.44.