Keep Movin' On surges in final half-mile of Robert Dupret Derby

Keep Movin’ On closed from last in the final half-mile to win Saturday’s $95,700 Robert Dupret Derby on turf at the Sonoma county fair in Santa Rosa despite an eventful stretch run and a brief inquiry.

Ridden by Frank Alvarado for owner and breeder Tom Bachman, Keep Movin’ On ($5.20) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of pacesetter Baby Waylon, a 5-2 chance. Grogu (3-1) had a troubled trip in the stretch but held third.

Keep Movin’ On, who was favored, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.17, winning his first stakes and for the third time in his nine-race career. Keep Movin’ On earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 65.

Alvarado had Keep Movin’ On between rivals on the backstretch, and found better position stalking Baby Waylon on the turn. With a wide move, Keep Movin’ On reached contention in the stretch. He raced in close quarters with Baby Waylon, but had sufficient momentum to draw away.

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Baby Waylon finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Grogu, who was in a tight position in early stretch. The stewards conducted an inquiry, but did not change the order of finish.

Right Hand Ryder finished fourth, followed by Bravo Ragazzo, Elegant Boy and Novinophobia.

Keep Movin’ On, trained by Steve Specht, is a gelding by Sir Prancealot. He won a maiden race on turf at Golden Gate Fields last November in his second start, lost his next five starts, including a ninth-place finish in the Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita in May, and won a starter allowance at the Alameda county fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on June 22 in advance of Saturday’s win.

Keep Movin’ On has earned $103,640.

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