Utah Beach, a 11-1 longshot, surprised everyone with a victory at the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 19, delivering a healthy stakes payoff to the crowd. Trainer Ignacio Correas IV revealed that the win was part of a carefully planned strategy that began in winter. The 5-year-old English Channel gelding had shown promise with runner-up finishes in previous races.
Under jockey Vincent Cheminaud, Utah Beach mounted a late charge to outpace the front-runner, Limited Liability, and clinch the victory by a head. The win marked a significant achievement for the owners, Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable, who had faith in the talented gelding. Utah Beach’s success is a testament to his breeding, being out of mare My Own Story, who has produced multiple stakes winners.
The victory at Elkhorn Stakes solidified Utah Beach’s reputation as a competitive turf router, showing that he performs well at Keeneland. Despite his odds, the gelding’s impressive win has put him in the spotlight as a promising contender in future races.
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