Eugene Melnyk’s homebred Bridgetown scored a come-from-behind victory in the $150,000 Woodford S. (G3) Saturday at Keeneland, giving the 5-year-old son of Speightstown his seventh career stakes victory. Speightstown now has two graded stakes winners in the first two days of the Keeneland meet; Sum of the Parts won the Grade 3 Phoenix S. on opening day.
A turf sprint specialist, Bridgetown was sent off the 3-5 favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong dash on the Keeneland lawn. The hearty chestnut didn’t get away quickly, but settled in nicely about six lengths off the lead for the backstretch run. Javier Castellano swung his mount out around the turn for his move to the leaders. He reeled in the pacesetter Great Mills in deep stretch and pulled clear for a one-length victory. The final time was 1:02.55.
“It was a beautiful trip. It worked out great for me,” said Castellano. “My horse didn’t break that sharp. I took my time on the backside. They went pretty fast in the first quarter mile. He settled beautifully behind the leaders and when I asked him he responded so well. He got it done.”
The Woodford was the seventh career stakes win for Bridgetown, whose other Grade 3 score occurred in the 2009 Summer S. for 2-year-olds at Woodbine. His other black-type victories include two renewals of the Troy S. at Saratoga, the Latham S. at Saratoga, the Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs, and the Gilded Time S. at Monmouth Park.
Bridgetown has now earned $934,700 from a career mark of 19-9-5-1. The Florida-bred was produced by the stakes-placed Tabasco Cat mare Ellesmere, making him a half-brother to multiple stakes winners Carnacks Choice and Clement Rock.
