Just A Touch, Scores Resolute’s First Win at Keeneland
8th-Keeneland, $130,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($80,000), 4-19, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:50.34, ft, 7 lengths.
JUST A TOUCH (c, 4, Justify–Touching Beauty {GSW, $183,166}, by Tapit) was runner-up in last year's GIII Gotham Stakes and this track's GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and was as short as 11-1 for the GI Kentucky Derby. Very little went right on that occasion, but he bounced back to just miss in the July 6 Iowa Derby before going missing. The bay could not have been more impressive in bossing a first-level Fair Grounds allowance from the front Mar. 1, bolting up by 10 1/2 lengths, and he was just shy of 1-2 to repeat the dose on Saturday. Suffice to say he'll not be seeing allowance company again anytime soon. The $300,000 OBS April breezer won the break and carried the lead into the first turn, but Florent Geroux took a tug and was content to lay second while maintaining a foothold at the fence, as Passing Game (Medaglia d'Oro)–ostensibly there to help set things up for the more accomplished Skinner (Curlin)–was intent on making the lead. Geroux sat against Just a Touch before giving him his head with better than a half-mile to race and the colt was firmly in front entering the turn. They lined up to try to take a crack at him nearing the stretch, but Just a Touch continued to go through his gears, opening up at will and easing home a very good-looking winner, earning himself the right to return to some of the top races on offer over the coming months. 'TDN Rising Star' Parchment Party (Constitution) closed well from the back of the pack to earn second money over Gould's Gold (Goldencents). Don Alberto Corporation acquired 2010 GIII Comely Stakes heroine Touching Beauty for $800,000 in foal to Speightstown at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale and Just a Touch is one of five winners from seven to race from the mare. Touching Beauty is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Adventurist (Curlin)–a $500,000 KEESEP yearling who is unplaced in two starts–a yearling colt by Mandaloun and delivered a full-sister to Just a Touch the same day he celebrated victory in the Big Easy. Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack spoke to trainer Brad Cox about Just a Touch and his other heavy hitters in the handicap division for Saturday's TDN. Just a Touch will be aimed at the GI Met Mile on the stacked GI Belmont Stakes program at Saratoga June 7, per Fergus Galvin, who serves as an U.S. advisor to co-owner Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad. Sales history: $170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-3-3-0, $440,778