Landseer best in Shadwell

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The stable that has developed into the most dominant force in Europe flexed its muscles Sunday at Keeneland when Landseer, trained by Aidan O'Brien, drove to victory in the richest race of the fall meet, the $600,000 .

Landseer, the 3-1 second choice, won by a neck over Touch of the Blues while Beat Hollow, the 7-10 favorite in a field of eight, finished another half-length back in third.

O'Brien, who at the youthful age of 32 already has achieved icon status in England and Ireland, sent Landseer to the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile off a layoff of nearly three months. A Danehill colt who was the only 3-year-old in the field, Landseer responded with a sensational run, tipping off the rail after lurking in mid-pack and surging past Beat Hollow in upper stretch. Touch of the Blues made a huge run from seventh, but Landseer held sway under pressure from Edgar Prado.

The winner returned $8.80 after finishing a mile in 1:35.55 over a firm turf.

"Beat Hollow wasn't quitting, we were just a little quicker," said Prado.

Kent Desormeaux, who rode Touch of the Blues, said his mount "really took off" when clear for the drive, "but the winner just wouldn't let us by him."

Landseer is owned by Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier, whose sizable contingent of royally-bred horses are a major reason O'Brien has become the most successful trainer in Europe. An English-bred who now has won four of 11 starts and $993,317, Landseer most likely will proceed to the Breeders' Cup Mile as one of the favorites. O'Brien also has several other major possibilities for the Mile, including Rock Of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing.

O'Brien was not present for the race, but his traveling assistant Mick Maloney called Landseer "a very serious racehorse."

In other Sunday action:

* For the second time in 16 days, Rochester won a rich turf marathon in Kentucky, rallying under Pat Day to win the $154,400 Sycamore Stakes.

Rochester, owned by the Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, prevailed by a length over Roxinho, an 18-1 shot. Rochester paid $7.20 as second choice in a field of seven.

In his previous start, Rochester won the Sept. 21 Kentucky Cup Turf at Kentucky Downs. A 6-year-old gelding by Green Dancer, he "is the ideal mile and a half horse to ride because he settles nicely into his energy-saving stride," said Day. "He is a real pleasure to ride."

Rochester finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:30.48.

* The Storm Cat was won by a Storm Cat.

February Storm, a Storm Cat colt trained by D. Wayne Lukas, edged away from Honor In War to win the $83,925 Storm Cat Stakes by a half-length.

February Storm, bred and owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., rallied from mid-pack under Calvin Borel to post his fourth victory from 16 starts. He finished a mile in 1:36.52 and paid $11 to win as third choice in a field of eight 3-year-olds.