Concerto Strikes Winning Chord Steinbrenner Entry Wins Beam; Inexcessivelygood Destroyed

Concerto, running for New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, won the $600,000 Jim Beam Stakes on Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., after Inexcessivelygood broke down during a stretch duel with the winner.

Inexcessivelygood dislocated a right front ankle, throwing jockey Chris McCarron. Inexcessivelygood, trained by Bob Baffert, had to be humanely destroyed. McCarron was taken to a hospital where it was determined that he had broken three ribs.

Concerto, ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., ran 1-1/8 miles in 1:48 1-5, nearly 2 seconds slower than Hansel’s track record despite a fast track that had yielded a record at 1-1/16 miles earlier in the day.

Jack Flash finished second, 2-1/2 lengths behind Concerto, and Shammy Davis was another half-length back. Both are trained by Nick Zito.

The win by Concerto, trained by John Tammaro III, was his fourth in succession and thrust him into the Triple Crown picture.

Turfway oddsmaker Mike Battaglia, who also makes the line at Churchill Downs, had said a win by Concerto would likely make him no worse than the third choice for the Kentucky Derby.

Inexcessivelygood broke down about 150 yards from the finish.

Concerto went off the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60, $3 and $2.40. Jack Flash returned $4.20 and $3.20. Shammy Davis was $6 to show.

Smokin Mel wins Gotham Stakes

He was bred in Washington state, once ran for $32,000, had never been tested beyond 6-1/2 furlongs and the trainer wanted to run him in an allowance race before facing any stiffer challenges. There’s not much about this gray colt that inspires dreams of roses, Churchill Downs or the first Saturday in May. But Smokin Mel enjoyed a few hard-earned minutes of fame at Aqueduct in the $200,000 Gotham Stakes.

In a gutsy effort, he shook off Wild Wonder in the stretch and then held off a late surge from Orwday to win the Kentucky Derby prep by a half-length.

It was his first start for owners Sidney Port and Ed Wachtel, and trainer John DeStefano.

Rain postpones Dubai World Cup

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates, two hours of torrential rain left the Nad Al Sheba racetrack waterlogged and postponed the $4 million Dubai World Cup.

A meeting today will determine when the race will be run.