Rey de Cafe wins by a neck

Rey de Cafe, who was narrowly defeated in his turf debut earlier in the Keeneland meet, overtook the favorite Dubleo in the final sixteenth to win the $112,200 Bourbon County Stakes by a neck Friday at Keeneland. Ready Ruler, one of three previous stakes winners going into the Bourbon County, finished 4 1/2 lengths behind in third.

Rating along the rail a few lengths behind the pacesetting Dubleo, Rey de Cafe was tipped off the rail by jockey Craig Perret at the quarter pole, drew even with Dubleo in the stretch, and steadily wore down his rival to post his second win in four starts.

Dubleo, the 17-10 favorite based on his three previous stakes wins, tried to buck the Keeneland turf course's bias toward closers. Posting moderate fractions of 23.45 seconds. 47.80, and 1:12.70, Dubleo fought hard to maintain his advantage but fell short in his quest to remain unbeaten on the turf.

Rey de Cafe ($8), a 2-year-old colt Kingmambo colt owned by G. Watts Humphrey and trained by Rusty Arnold, covered 1 1/16 miles over a yielding turf in 1:42.90.