Dark Cove romps in Elkhorn, caps epic meet for connections

Dark Cove put an exclamation point on a record-setting Keeneland season for the Ramseys, trainer Mike Maker and jockey Joel Rosario (Keeneland/Coady Photography) Keeneland’s 2013 spring meet was all about the record-setting team of owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trainer Mike Maker and jockey Joel Rosario, so it was fitting that they combined to upset Friday’s closing-day feature, the Grade 2, $150,000 Elkhorn Stakes, with 8-1 chance Dark Cove. Claimed for $50,000 exactly one year ago to the day, out of a last-of-four effort on the Keeneland Polytrack, Dark Cove had run for a tag in all three of his starts for his new connections, until Friday. Maker offered a memorable response about why he ran him in this spot. “Because the 50 (claimer) didn’t fill,” Maker said, eliciting laughs all around. Aside from the significant class hike, Dark Cove was unproven at the 1 1/2-mile trip. In his only previous attempt at a marathon distance, he was sixth in the 1 5/8-mile John’s Call at Saratoga in 2011. But none of that mattered for his white-hot connections in the Elkhorn, and Dark Cove recorded his first stakes victory. Dark Cove was perched in an outside stalking third as 5-2 favorite Ioya Bigtime loped through slow splits of :26 3/5, :52 1/5, 1:17 2/5 and 1:41 4/5 on the firm turf. Al Qasr was also forwardly placed in second along the inside, while Al Khali raced in a striking position in fourth.

On the final turn, Dark Cove launched his bid, easily overtook Ioya Bigtime,
and reached the 1 1/4-mile mark in 2:06 3/5. The six-year-old son of Medaglia
d’Oro belied his class and distance concerns by opening up down the stretch.
Under wraps and gearing down, Dark Cove coasted home a 4 1/4-length winner and
completed 1 1/2 miles in 2:30 4/5.

Dark Cove handed Rosario his 38th win during the spring meet, one day after
he broke Randy Romero’s mark of 32, in a smashing first season riding at
Keeneland full-time.

The Ramseys were winning their eighth career graded stakes at Keeneland, and
accordingly earned a gold tray for the milestone. They are the 18th owners to
reach this threshold.

The Elkhorn also ranked as their 24th win of the meet, doubling the old
spring record of 12 established by the legendary Calumet Farm in 1941 (and
equaled in the fall of 1968 by the Robertses). The Ramseys padded their record
in the nightcap, with Tuscan Treasure scoring their 25th win.

Maker (left), Ken Ramsey (center) and Rosario pose with the gold tray honoring the Ramseys’ eighth graded win at Keeneland (Keeneland/Coady Photography) “I can’t believe we’ve doubled the old record of 12 wins,” Ken Ramsey said. “To win 24 is unbelievable. “The low point about today is my wife (Sarah) had to be taken to the hospital yesterday. She’s not doing that well, but nothing life-threatening. That’s the only sad part, that she’s not able to be here with me. But this is almost like heaven.” At the same time, Tuscan Treasure gave Maker his record 25th win of the meet. Maker entered Friday tied with D. Wayne Lukas’ record of 22, but surpassed the Hall of Famer with a three-win day. Dark Cove, who paid $19.80, $10.80 and $6.80, spearheaded a superfecta of outsiders. The 23-1 Side Road, an entry-level allowance winner in his latest, rallied to grab second by a nose from the 7-1 Sky Blazer. Al Qasr, another 7-1 shot, reported home another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth. The exotics were accordingly lucrative — $378.60 (exacta), $2,133 trifecta and $13,505.20 (6-3-1-2 superfecta). Next came Reflecting, Pool Play, Al Khali, Macho Bull, Ioya Bigtime and Helicopter. Forte dei Marmi was pulled up on the backstretch and vanned off.

Dark Cove’s resume now reads 22-7-2-1, $332,510. Originally claimed from
owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito for just $16,000 in his third start,
he promptly won three in a row for a partnership organized by trainer Ken McPeek.
Dark Cove was unplaced in his first two stakes attempts in the 2010 Commonwealth
Turf and 2011 Ft. Lauderdale, but subsequently got up for third in the Colonial
Turf Cup. After a trio of sixths in the aforementioned John’s Call, Hollywood
Gold Cup and Washington Park Handicap, he was spelled for six months.

Upon his return in 2012, Dark Cove was given class relief in starter
allowances, but ultimately slid down for the tag and was haltered by the Ramseys
and Maker. He resurfaced in January at Fair Grounds after an eight-month layoff,
finishing fourth for a $40,000 tag in an optional claimer. Dark Cove won next
time out at the $40,000 claiming level going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at
Gulfstream Park, but settled for second at the $50,000 level in his latest on
March 7.

Dark Cove was bred by Stonewall Farm Stallions in Kentucky and sold twice at
Keeneland — for $120,000 as a November weanling and $155,000 as a September
yearling. Out of the Kris S. mare Crystal Cove, the bay comes from the family of
Grade 3 winners Better Now, River Squall and Heavenly Landing, and further back,
Australian Group 2 victor Churchill Downs.

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