Longshot West Memorial’s Strong Kick Upsets Kentucky Juvenile S., First Stakes Win For Freshman Sire Caracaro

[Wandering Eyes]

West Memorial's freshman sire Caracaro (by Uncle Mo) was handed his first stakes win, as the colt kicked on late in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs on Thursday. The John Hancock trainee was last seen debuting a close second at Keeneland Apr. 7.

Overlooked as a 17-1 shot here, the bay watched as 'TDN Rising Star' Shoot It True (Munnings) and recent Resolute Racing acquisition Mensa (Complexity) battled one another for the lead up the backstretch. The longshot saved his strength around the far turn, but was never that far off the frontrunners as the top of the lane arrived. When the pacesetters began to waver, West Memorial rolled down the center of the course and scooped up the prize.

The second to race out of a dam who herself never made it to the track, the winner has a yearling half-brother by Tacitus. Vita Bella was bred to Olympiad for this spring. She is a half-sister to sire Mo Town (Uncle Mo), SP Champagne Lady (Uncle Mo), who went to Barronstown Stud for $1.45 million at last year's Keeneland November Sale while in foal to Flightline, and to 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify).

KENTUCKY JUVENILE S., $247,165, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 2yo, 5f, :58.29, ft.
1–WEST MEMORIAL, 118, f, 2, by Caracaro
                1st Dam: Vita Bella, by Super Saver
                2nd Dam: Grazie Mille, by Bernardini
                3rd Dam: Molto Vita, by Carson City
($45,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Swinbank Stables, LLC; B-Equine Futures LLC (KY); T-John A. Hancock; J-Reylu Gutierrez. $150,280. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $160,270.
2–Strummin, 118, c, 2, Flameaway–Queen of the Party, by Kantharos. ($12,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Randle L. Glosson; B-Kali Kleinfelt & Justyn Harper (KY); T-John A. Hancock. $48,800.
3–Akinmusire, 118, c, 2, Will Take Charge–Gotta B Kitten Me, by Lucky Pulpit. ($5,000 Ylg '23 FTDMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone and Jarrett Collins; B-Perry Martin (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. $24,400.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2, 1. Odds: 17.94, 22.30, 6.96.
Also Ran: Shoot It True, Tuxedo Park, Mensa, Turnbuckle, Jet Sweep Joe. Scratched: The Queens M G.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

West Memorial runs home late to win the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes under Reylu Gutierrez! pic.twitter.com/PwjVbJcZ3U

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 2, 2024

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