At Keeneland, youth served in early double

LEXINGTON, Ky. – If perfection is possible, Mitchell Murrill might have found it with the opening of the Keeneland fall meet Friday – just like the thousands of fans who turned out.

Under bright skies and ideal weather, Murrill never had a straw in his path when guiding You Bought Her to a 5 1/2-length romp in the first race of the 17-day meet.

“It was a clean trip on a really nice mare,” said Murrill, a 22-year-old native of Mobile, Ala. “It’s a great feeling to win the first race of the meet.”

Likewise, patrons were already fully enjoying themselves by reveling in the sights and sounds of one of America’s favorite racetracks.

“It’s a special day at a special place,” said Michael Haick, a 53-year-old Louisville resident who has been attending Keeneland since he was a freshman at the nearby University of Kentucky some 35 years ago.

You Bought Her, a 6-year-old Florida-bred mare, raced just off the pace before taking over midway through the turn, eventually completing the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in 1:25.85 over a fast track to return $16.60 to win. The victory not only was her ninth from 45 career starts but also ran her record to 3 for 3 over the Keeneland main track for her Chicago-based co-owners, Richard Perkins and trainer David Hinsley.

“They never get too excited and are great people to ride for,” said Murrill, who was second only to Jose Valdivia Jr. in the jockey standings at the recently ended Arlington Park meet.

The second race showcased the talents of another 22-year-old jockey, Jose Ortiz, who guided Bourbon Happens ($8.20) to a come-from-behind victory in a $10,000 claiming sprint for trainer Charlie LoPresti. Ortiz, the leading rider at Saratoga this summer, will be riding regularly at Keeneland for the first time this meet, at least through the Oct. 16 card.

Friday was the first of three programs on FallStars Weekend, which traditionally opens the fall meet with a slew of important preps for the Breeders’ Cup. The Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes and Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes, both Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, were to be run later Friday.

The fall meet runs through Oct. 29.