Limehouse takes Bashford Manor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dogwood Stable, the high-profile syndicate that recently won the Tremont Stakes with Heckle, had another 2-year-old make some major noise Sunday when Limehouse posted an emphatic victory in the , the closing-day feature of the Churchill Downs spring meet.

Limehouse, ridden by Robby Albarado, remained unbeaten in three career starts when rolling to a 4 1/2-length victory in the 102nd running of the $162,750 Bashford Manor. The winner returned $8 as second choice after finishing six furlongs in 1:10.62 over a fast track.

Limehouse's task was made simpler when the 1-2 favorite, Cuvee, had a rough trip in the crucial middle stages of the Grade 3 race before reporting home third in the field of six. At the half-mile pole, front-running Bustin' Out created tight quarters for Limehouse, who in turn crowded Cuvee, who had started from post 1. Cuvee, ridden by Lonnie Meche, appeared to actually graze the inner rail and was checked sharply for several more strides, virtually losing all chance.

"Darn the luck," said Steve Asmussen, trainer of the previously unbeaten Cuvee.

First Money, at 42-1 the longest shot in the race, finished second, two lengths before Cuvee, who only had a nose on Bustin' Out at the wire. Exploit Lad and Next Bandit rounded out the finish.

Limehouse, by Grand Slam, is based at Belmont Park with trainer Todd Pletcher, yet all three of his career starts have come in Kentucky. He won a maiden race at Keeneland in April, then won the Grade 3 Three Chimneys Juvenile on the May 3 Kentucky Derby day undercard at Churchill. In the Three Chimneys, Limehouse defeated his stablemate, Heckle, who returned to win the Tremont in his next start.

Both Limehouse and Heckle will be pointed to the Saratoga series of high-profile races for 2-year-olds, with Limehouse running next in the Aug. 13 Saratoga Special.

Dogwood long has been noted as one of the premier ownership syndicates in the U.S. The only time Dogwood won the Bashford Manor was in 1989 with Summer Squall, who the next spring finished second in the Kentucky Derby and won the Preakness.

The Bashford Manor capped a terrific weekend for Albarado, who the previous day won the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap at Belmont aboard Mineshaft. The weekend also was a memorable one for Pletcher, who won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth the previous day with longshot Balto Star.

* Earlier Sunday, Proud Citizen posted an easy 4 1/2-length victory under Pat Day in a $48,380 allowance. The victory was the first for the Gone West colt since he captured the Lexington Stakes two weeks before finishing second in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Proud Citizen returned $2.60 after finishing 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28.36.

Because Sunday was the final day of the meet, there was a mandatory pick six payout. Tickets with 6 of 6 returned $25,004.80.