[dellinger63]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Two-year-olds don't typically win early-season stakes with powerful inside rallies. But when Circular Quay prevailed that way Saturday in the Grade 3, $166,500 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, it was difficult not to believe the Thunder Gulch colt has an unlimited future.

Circular Quay, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, glided past four rivals in the final eighth of the six-furlong Bashford Manor, remaining unbeaten in two starts. The colt also won his only previous start, a June 15 maiden race at Churchill, in rallying fashion.

"I asked him, and in five jumps he was in the front," said Bejarano.

Circular Quay returned $4.40 as the favorite in a field of eight 2-year-olds. Shermanesque finished second, 1 1/4 lengths behind, followed by Run Alex Run and Teuflesberg. The winning time was 1:09.96 over a fast track.

Shermanesque, ridden by Brice Blanc, appeared to have the 105th Bashford Manor under control just inside the eighth pole when he surged past several rivals inside the eighth pole. But Circular Quay's late run was overpowering.

"I passed him very easily," said Bejarano, who won four other races Saturday.

Chace City, the 9-2 third choice, jumped the inside rail to lose all chance soon after the start, winding up sixth. Pegasus Wind, the 5-1 fourth choice for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, pressed the pace to midstretch before fading to fifth in his career debut.

Circular Quay was bred by Doreen Tabor and is owned by Michael Tabor, the Englishman who won the 1995 Kentucky Derby with Thunder Gulch. In no small part because Thunder Gulch has become a proven sire at longer distances, Tabor's employees and associates who traveled to Churchill for the Bashford Manor, led by Demi O'Byrne, were ecstatic with the results. Todd Pletcher is the trainer of Circular Quay.



and as far as accuracy police goes let whoever said this is Pletcher's 20th best 2 yr old post the 19 above him. LOL