Let'scalliteven ($26) upsets Governor's Buckeye Cup

In a field including statebred champion and distance specialist Mo Dont No and the streaking Altissimo, it was Let'scalliteven who sprang the upset by prevailing at the end of a long drive in the $75,000 Governor’s Buckeye Cup for Ohio-breds going 1 1/4 miles Saturday at Thistledown.

This was the first career stakes victory for Let'scalliteven ($26), a 5-year-old gelding bred, owned, and trained by Robert Bennett. He finished third in the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes last fall behind Mo Dont No, who repeated in the race at his favored 10-furlong distance to lock up a second title as Ohio’s horse of the year. Earlier this year, Let’scalliteven finished third in the Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap behind Altissimo and another statebred champion, Rivers Run Deep.

Altissimo, sent away favored in the Buckeye Cup off four straight victories, including three stakes scores, set the pace Saturday, ticking off splits of 23.08 seconds for the quarter, 46.60 second for the half, and 1:12.04 for six furlongs.

At the quarter pole, Mo Dont No, who had been tracking in second, drew alongside Altissimo and poked his head in front, with Let'scalliteven, who was moving along the rail under Chelsey Keiser, just another head back. Mo Dont No and Let'scalliteven were left to battle it out to the wire as Altissimo grudgingly gave way. Let'scalliteven hit the wire a neck in front, stopping the clock in 2:06.66 for the 10 furlongs.

It was another three lengths back to Altissimo.