by Mike Curry

Thorn Song has been dangerous during his career when left alone on the lead and on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course he set an uncontested pace and dug in determinedly in the final furlong to win the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths.

The five-year-old Unbridled’s Song horse opened a clear lead in the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1) on April 11 at Keeneland and finished a game third, beaten by a length. Thorn Song was loose on the lead in the Firecracker Handicap (G2) on July 4 at Churchill Downs and held on to win by a length.

In the Shadwell Turf Mile, Thorn Song outsprinted Kingship to take the early lead and opened a clear advantage, he threw down the gauntlet challenging 11 opponents to try and catch him.

Zayat Stables’s Thorn Song drilled an opening quarter in :23.28 and led by 1 1/2 lengths through a half-mile in :46.26 under Robby Albarado. Kingship, Karelian, and Rahy’s Attorney stalked the pace with War Monger positioned in fifth and Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) winner Shakis (Ire) reserved in 11th.

War Monger moved up on the turn and powered ahead to challenge in the stretch, but Thorn Song had plenty of stamina in reserve and turned back the bid. Shakis charged into contention in the final sixteenth with a furious late rally from the outside but never seriously threatened Thorn Song, who prevailed in 1:34.97 on firm turf.

The Shadwell Turf Mile score earned Thorn Song a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Shakis edged third-place finisher War Monger by a nose and fourth-place finisher Lord Admiral in a photo finish for second. War Monger finished a head in front of Lord Admiral

Thorn Song improved to seven wins in 22 career starts for trainer Dale Romans and boosted his earnings to $914,981. Bred in Kentucky by Pinnacle Racing and Taylor Made Farm, Thorn Song is out of the unraced Storm Bird mare Festal.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor