War Dancer's head hits wire first in Louisville Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For a moment there, Ken McPeek thought he might have another graded stakes dead heat to put on his training resume.

But then the gritty McPeek-trained War Dancer poked his dark bay head in front, claiming victory all for himself Saturday in the 77th running of the Grade 3, $110,200 Louisville Handicap on the Churchill Downs turf. Suntracer was a close second.

“I’ve already had three dead heats in graded races,” said McPeek. “I don’t want to be greedy, but it is nice to win them straight up.”

Getting a heady ride from Alan Garcia, War Dancer was sent up to contest a moderate pace on the second of three turns in the Louisville, a 1 1/2-mile turf race, and he stayed there to the wire. The early leader, Tattenham, was the first to yield, and then Star Channel began to fade.

Meanwhile, Suntracer was making a huge outside move under Robby Albarado, and he and Ward Dancer proceeded to battle head-and-head from the furlong pole to the wire, with War Dancer ultimately prevailing by a head for his fourth triumph from 13 lifetime starts.

Moro Tap finished another three lengths back in third and was followed by Forte Dei Marmi and Star Channel.

War Dancer, owned by Diamond M Stable, returned $3.80 as a heavy favorite in a field of eight older horses after finishing in 2:28.23 over a firm course. A Kentucky-bred 4-year-old colt by War Front, he now has won two stakes, with the Grade 2 Virginia Derby last July being the other. He was coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on closing day of the Keeneland spring meet.

The $2 exacta (2-6) paid $17.40, the $1 trifecta (2-6-3) returned $40.90, the 10-cent superfecta (2-6-3-1) was worth $18.76, and the $1 super high five (2-6-3-1-8) paid $500.80.

McPeek had his first graded dead heat winner in the 2002 Louisville when sending out Pisces, who finished on even terms with Classic Par. His others were Golden Ticket in the 2012 Travers and Rosalind in the 2014 Ashland.

Five-win day for Napravnik

Rosie Napravnik, who rode Moro Tap, won five of the nine earlier races on a Saturday card that ended with the Louisville Cap. Napravnik, the leading rider at the spring meet, was victorious aboard Determined Yankee ($5.20) in the second, Ariadna ($7.60) in the third, Quiet Force ($5.20) in the fourth, Saffron Hall ($8.20) in the seventh, and Tres Belle ($4.60) in the ninth.

* Also earlier Saturday, 3-year-old Almost Famous ($6) easily defeated five older horses in a $52,349, second-level allowance, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.63 over a fast main track. Even with Calvin Borel barely moving aboard the colt, his win margin was 7 3/4 lengths.

Trainer Pat Byrne said Almost Famous will make his next start versus fellow 3-year-olds here in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on the June 14 Stephen Foster night card.

* There will be racing here through Monday, normally a dark day, with the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes serving as the Memorial Day feature. There will be no racing on Thursday to make up for the lost dark day.