Trainer Ian Wilkes has made it a two-year habit of winning graded stakes early in the spring meet at Keeneland.
Last spring, he took the Madison Stakes (G1) with Positano Sunset and the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) with Burnham Square in the meet's first few days, and this year he struck opening day, April 3, when A Fine Chardonnay popped the cork by rallying to defeat favored Sneaky Good in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies.
Stretching out to 7 furlongs after four shorter sprint starts, two of which resulted in victories, A Fine Chardonnay closed outside from last in the field of five 3-year-old fillies under Brian Hernandez Jr. From that position, she raced unimpeded through the lane, while runner-up Sneaky Good, under Flavien Prat, had her rail-skimming trip impeded by pacesetter Wrong Shoes, who tightened up Sneaky Good's running path in midstretch in aggressive riding tactics from her rider, Joel Rosario.
In the clear, A Fine Chardonnay sailed on by, outpunching Sneaky Good for a three-quarter-length victory. Wrong Shoes held on for third.
Closing from last from behind fractions of :22.87 and :46.36 set by Wrong Shoes, the winner ran 7 furlongs in 1:23.85 over a drying-out track upgraded to muddy. She paid $6.82 to win.
Wilkes, who trains A Fine Chardonnay for Philip Griesinger's Double 22 Stables, said his filly could return at Churchill Downs in the May 1 Eight Belles Stakes (G2), also at 7 furlongs.
More immediately, he was content to savor the Beaumont.
"This is my race. I wanted to win this one," said the trainer, who initially won the Beaumont in 2020 with Four Graces.
Bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables out of the Bernardini mare Andele, A Fine Chardonnay was acquired last year by Kirkwood, agent for Double 22 Stables, for $85,000 from the De Meric Sales consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Her sire, Maclean's Music , stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky for $30,000.
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Nothing But Trouble in Lafayette Stakes
Trouble Calling added to a remarkable family record by narrowly winning the $393,875 Lafayette Stakes, becoming the third stakes winner from three runners out of the Into Mischief mare Into Trouble.
Trouble Calling, a homebred 3-year-old Dialed In colt racing for Donamire Farm, joins turf horses Troubleshooting (Not This Time ) and Big Trouble (Kantharos ) as his dam's black-type winners. Troubleshooting is a three-time stakes winner who scored a massive payday in the 2025 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) in September at Kentucky Downs, and Big Trouble took the Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this past November.
Into Trouble also has unraced a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt, both by Nashville .
Trouble Calling, under Luis Saez, notched his stakes victory on a sloppy (sealed) main track. He rallied from sixth behind hot fractions of :21.91 and :44.47 in the 7-furlong race, and outkicked Oscar's Hope and a weakening Carson Street through the lane, hitting the wire a head in front of runner-up Oscar's Hope in 1:24.03. Carson Street showed. Trouble Calling paid $11.40 to win in notching a second consecutive victory from six career starts.
Trainer Greg Foley believes Trouble Calling should be able to stretch out to a mile. Such versatility could make the $750,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) an option May 2 at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.
Dialed In stands for $10,000 at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky.
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