By My Standards Rocks Alysheba

LOUISVILLE, KY – Allied Racing Stable’s By My Standards straightened for home with a lead and held sway in the stretch to Friday’s $400,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

By My Standards was the 3/2 second choice as he broke from post 6 under Gabe Saez, then immediately went to the front and raced a 1/2-length behind and outside of Mr Freeze.

With Manny Franco in the irons, Mr Freeze was allowed to post opening fractions of :25.71, :49.93, and 1:12.80, but he soon gave way at the top of the stretch as the field straightened for home.

Despite Owendale looming large to his outside, By My Standards was able to edge clear in the stretch, repelling his foe to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:42.24.

“A little bit out of the gate, I see Franco trying to get going,” Saez said. “I said, ‘OK, he’s going to go. I’m going to stay in here close.’ It was not really fast on the front end, but when it was time to get running around the 1/2-mile pole, he picked up an extra gear. Each time I asked him to give me that acceleration, he did. I was really confident in him today. I was expecting him to run a huge race today, and here we are. I’m glad we got the job done.”

Owendale’s failed stretch bid saw him finish second, just a head in front of Silver Dust. The 6/5 favorite McKinzie could do no better than fourth, outkicking Title Ready and a spent Mr Freeze to complete the order of finish.

Bodexpress and Hence were scratched.

By My Standards’ win was his first since taking May’s Oaklawn Handicap (G2), at the time his third straight victory. The 4-year-old Goldencents colt, who has not finished worse than second in 6 starts this year, improved his record to 12-6-4-1 with $1,764,430 earned.

“Winning a race like this at Churchill is always special for our entire team,” Calhoun said. “This horse got in some interesting pace scenarios in the last 2 starts, and today, Gabe gave him the perfect ride and sat a perfect trip the entire way around there.”

By My Standards returned $5 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Owendale brought back $6 to place and $4 to show, while Silver Dust paid $3.80 to show.