Amerman Racing Stables’ CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant) closed determinedly to
win Friday’s $150,000
Transylvania S. (G3) by a nose at the wire. The
opening-day feature at Keeneland drew a competitive field of eight
three-year-olds for the
one-mile grassy affair, but Jerry Bailey and Chattahoochee War made it an
exciting one when prevailing in a three-horse blanket finish. The colt
stopped the clock in 1:35 1/5, returning $8.60, $4.40 and $3.40 as the 3-1
second choice.
Content to sit off a contested pace up front set by Moth Ball (GB) (Royal
Applause [GB]) and even-money favorite Dubleo (Southern Halo), Chattahoochee War
ran fourth through fractions of :22 2/5, :45 3/5 and 1:09 4/5 for
six furlongs. Bailey asked his mount for his best turning for home, where they
were still fourth after seven-eighths in 1:22 1/5. The bay found another
gear inside the final furlong, driving home on the outside to just nip Guillaume
Tell (Ire) (Rossini) and jockey Rafael Bejarano, who was in turn a neck in front
of Rey de Cafe (Kingmambo). A claim of foul was lodged by Bejarano, but was
disallowed by the stewards.
The winner keyed exotics of $43 for the exacta, $152.20 for the trifecta and
$206.80 for the 3-1-4-7 superfecta. Guillaume Tell was worth $4.60 and $3.40 at
4-1, while Rey de Cafe gave back $3.40. They were followed by Dubleo, Moth Ball,
Ready Ruler (More Than Ready), Main Point (Lil’s Lad) and B Trick (Phone Trick).
Cosmic Kris (Storm Creek) was withdrawn.
Chattahoochee War was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the first foal out
of Grade 3 heroine Buffalo Berry (Ire) (Sri Pekan). He counts
Mystic Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), an unraced two-year-old, as a half-brother and
has an unnamed yearling full brother. Chattahoochee War improves his mark to 5-3-0-0 with
earnings of $175,821, adding to a score in the Hill Rise S. in January.