Scarlett Sky Last to First in Transylvania

LEXINGTON, KY – Stuart Janney III homebred Scarlett Sky flew last to first to win Friday’s $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

Scarlett Sky broke from the rail under Joel Rosario as the 5/2 second choice and took back as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) champion Fire At Will strode out to the lead, posting opening fractions of :24.63, :49.83, and 1:14.32.

Fire At Will pulled away slightly in the stretch, but Rosario tipped out Scarlett Sky and sent him rallying down the center of the course. Fire At Will weakened inside the 1/16 pole and yielded to the hard-charging Shug McGaughey trainee, who crossed a 1/2-length clear of the similarly late-running Palazzi while stopping the clock for the 1 1/16-mile good turf route in 1:43.89.

“I knew they weren’t going very fast,” Rosario said. “In the first turn, I wasn’t far away from (the leaders). I just let him get his feet into the ground and he came with a strong run like he always does. He put in a good finish.”

Palazzi was a 1/2-length clear of the even-money favorite Fire At Will, who was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Barrister Tom.

Earls Rock and Breadman completed the order of finish in the race restricted to 3-year-olds.

Scarlett Sky’s win was his first at the graded stakes level and improved his record to 7-3-3-0 with $210,400 earned. The Sky Mesa colt was most recently second by a head in the Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s a nice horse,” McGaughey said. “I told Joel, ‘Just be careful. He’ll try to hang a little bit.’ That’s probably why he was back a little farther than usual to make that one quick run.”

Scarlett Sky returned $7 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.40 to show. Palazzi brought back $7.20 to place and $3 to show. Fire At Will paid $2.20 to show.