LEXINGTON, Ky. - Orientate sped to an uncontested lead and had plenty in reserve to hold off favored Aldebaran in the $272,000 on Sunday at Keeneland.
With Pat Day riding for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Orientate went unchallenged down the backstretch after Dancing Missile, another expected front-runner, was checked soon after the break. Out of the turn of the seven-furlong race, Orientate held a comfortable three-length lead and was hand-ridden to the wire when prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths over Aldebaran, the 9-5 favorite.