Willyconker pulled off a 10-1 upset this afternoon in the $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (gr. I), holding off a late run from odds-on favorite Mr. Commons to win by a neck.
Ridden to victory by Joel Rosario, the colt was content to settle into the third position early on as Jimmy Simms set a moderate pace of :23.17 and :46.95. Compari was racing in second, while Mr. Commons was racing toward the rear of the field while right along the rail. Jeranimo -- the second choice in the field of eight -- was also one of the trailers.
The positions remained relatively unchanged down the backstretch, but rounding the far turn Mr. Commons began to advance up on the outside and turned for home right in contention for the win. However, while the colt displayed a brilliant turn of foot in the final eighth of a mile, he was unable to catch Willyconker, who struck the front in the stretch and closed just as fast to win in the sharp time of 1:33.88 for the one-mile distance.
Compari held on to third, while Jeranimo completed the superfecta. The winner is trained by Doug O'Neill and has now stamped himself as one of the better turf milers in this country.
-Keelerman
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