Likely crushes the competition in Lafayette

LEXINGTON, Ky. - On the morning of the March 25 Lane's End Stakes, a colt named Likely was nothing more than an unraced, albeit well-regarded, 3-year-old colt in the Patrick Biancone barn at Turfway Park.

A little more than two weeks later, Likely is a stakes winner and untested in two starts. Off an easy debut win in the first race on Lane's End Day, Likely was even more impressive Sunday in running off from four rivals in the $107,800 at Keeneland.

With apprentice Julien Leparoux riding for Biancone and owners Maurice Miller 3rd and Tom VanMeter, Likely won by nine lengths, returning $13.40 as third choice after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.32 over a fast track. Laptop Computer, the 9-10 favorite finished second, another seven lengths before Skeleton Crew.

Likely, by Yes It's True, rallied along the rail and from just off the pace in what was the third victory of the Sunday card for Leparoux, the leading rider in North American in wins this year.