Killybegs captures Craven prize

Two years ago, Barry Hills trained Haafhd to a Craven Stakes-2000 Guineas double. On May 6 Hills will attempt a repeat of that feat with Killybegs, the 3 1/2-length winner Thursday of the Group 3, $89,625 Craven over Newmarket's straight Rowley Mile.

Jockey Michael Hills, the trainer's son, always had Killybegs, an Irish-bred son of Orpen, well within striking distance in the nine-runner Craven. Killybegs, sent off at 9-2, led at the three-sixteenths pole and was going away at the line, getting the mile on good to firm ground in 1:38.79. Metropolitan Man was second, with the previously unbeaten Gin Jockey a neck farther back in third. The 6-5 favorite, City of Troy, faded late to finish eighth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths.

A $120,000 yearling, Killybegs is a half-brother to Lady's Mantle, a Sri Pekan filly who was campaigned on the West Coast in 2003 and 2004.