Lattice wins Louisville Cap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lattice got a perfect inside trip under Robby Albarado before finishing clear of two longshots and posting the second graded stakes victory of his career Saturday in the 71st running of the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Always near the pace while saving ground during all three turns of the Louisville, a 1 1/2-mile turf race, Lattice surged to the front after turning for home before prevailing by three-quarters of a length. Transduction Gold, a 34-1 shot, was second, a neck before Birdbirdistheword, a 46-1 shot.

Lattice, a 4-year-old by Arch, is owned by Adele Dilschneider and his breeder, Claiborne Farm. Al Stall Jr. trains Lattice, who returned $7.40 after finishing in 2:31.13 over a firm turf. Lattice added the $170,100 Louisville to his lone prior stakes triumph, the Grade 2 American Derby last July at Arlington Park.

Brass Hat, the 2-1 favorite, who raced in last place for much of the way, rallied belatedly to be fourth, while Silverfoot, a three-time former winner (2004-06) of the Louisville, finished a nonthreatening fifth of 11. Firerock Base failed to finish after he was pulled up in the stretch while in distress in his right foreleg.

One race earlier, Sam P. ($8.40), the ninth-place finisher in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, held off two late charges for a narrow victory in a $43,580 allowance route under Julien Leparoux.

Favorites dominated early Saturday by sweeping the first five races. Albarado and trainer Ken McPeek teamed to win three of those races with Subscriber ($3) in the first, Rue de Vie ($3.60) in the second, and Chit Chat Cat ($4.80) in the fifth.