Ohio denies Catapult in Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – After a three-week postponement when Santa Anita was closed for racing, the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile was run on Saturday. When Catapult, the 4-5 favorite, and Ohio, a 9-1 chance, appeared to reach the wire together, the stewards needed eight minutes to study the photo finish.

Ohio won the Kilroe by the slimmest of noses in what was very nearly a dead-heat. The $400,351 Kilroe Mile was a milestone win for the 8-year-old gelding, who was claimed for $50,000 last June. For jockey Ruben Fuentes, the Kilroe Mile was his first Grade 1 win.

The result took so long to reveal that Fuentes on Ohio and Drayden Van Dyke on Catapult were on their mounts circling near the winner’s circle when the announcement was made. Fuentes, 21, had a sponge in his left hand, and stopped swabbing Ohio’s neck to thrust his hand in the air in celebration.

The Kilroe is the leading turf mile race of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. The race was scheduled for March 9, but postponed until Saturday after the track was closed for inspection and renovation following a series of equine fatalities since late December.

Ohio ($21.20) ran a mile in 1:33.71 for his first graded stakes win. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

Trained by Michael McCarthy for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman, Ohio won the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise on Jan. 12 with Fuentes aboard. The gelding and rider teamed to finish second to True Valour in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes here on Feb. 9.

Ohio closed from off the pace in those races, but was closer to the front throughout the Kilroe Mile, stalking pacesetter Hunt before taking the lead at the top of the stretch. Hunt set early fractions of 23.98 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.39 for a half-mile.

Ohio led by a length with a furlong remaining and had his head down at the right time at the wire.

“Turning for home, I moved my hands and he gave me a good turn of foot,” Fuentes said. “He fought back.”

Van Dyke had Catapult in fifth with a quarter-mile remaining behind horses and had running room through most of the stretch. Catapult closed sharply in the final furlong and may have led for a stride or two before the finish line.

“I got caught in a bad bob,” Van Dyke said. “They weren’t going fast. I would have liked to have gotten out earlier.”

Ohio, who was bred in Brazil and is by Elusive Quality, has won 9 of 26 starts and earned $488,065. He earned $240,000 on Saturday. Since being claimed, Ohio has earned $351,920.

The Kilroe Mile was Ohio’s first appearance in a Grade 1 and 12th in a graded stakes. In his first start after being claimed, Ohio won a $28,000 claimer at Del Mar last August for his current owners and trainer.