Renown makes a name for himself with Sycamore win

Merriebelle Stable LLC’s Renown was making his graded bow in Thursday’s $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, but that didn’t stop the chestnut gelding from getting up in the final strides to record a nose victory in the rainy day feature.

No one was in a hurry early as One Go All Go set the pace in the 1 1/2-mile affair through splits of :25.66, :52.10, 1:18.22 and 1:44.03. Street Fashion was keeping in close contact with the leader but Renown found himself near the rear of the field under Angel Cruz.

The duo ran well off the rail the entire time and moved even farther out upon hitting the backstretch for the final time. Renown slowly made his way forward while widest of all and kicked into gear heading into the final turn.

One Go All Go was fighting to hold off Street Fashion, but those two were quickly engulfed by the closing Renown, Bigger Picture and Bullards Alley. Those three duked it out to the line, with Renown getting his nose down on the wire and Bigger Picture a half-length up on Bullards Alley.

It was four lengths back to Street Fashion, who just stuck his neck in front of One Go All Go to complete the top four. Finishing the order under the wire were Postulation, Up With the Birds, Generous Kitten, Behesht, Fixador, 4-1 favorite Greengrassofyoming and Wild About You.

Renown was sent off the 9-1 seventh choice and returned $20.80 for finishing 1 1/2 miles over the good turf in 2:35.37. He earned his second straight stakes win after posting a one-length victory in the Laurel Turf Cup Stakes on September 10. Sandwiched between that score and a nose win in the July 9 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park was a third in the August 24 John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga.

Renown is trained by Elizabeth Voss and set records while running at Great Meadow last year. The five-year-old son of Champs Elysees began his career in Ireland and now boasts an 11-6-0-1 record to go along with $217,392 in career earnings.

Bred in Great Britain by Juddmonte Farms Ltd., Renown is out of the Quest for Fame mare Fame at Last. He is a half-brother to Irish highweight and Group 2 winner Famous Name, who placed in numerous Group 1 events; dual Group 3 heroine Big Break; and listed victress Discipline, all of whom are by Dansili. Renown also counts as a half-sister Group 3-placed listed winner Zaminast.

This female family is perhaps best known for producing dual Australian Horse of the Year and multiple Australian champion Makybe Diva, who ruled the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) from 2003-2005.

Renown photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography

SYCAMORE QUOTES

Angel Cruz, jockey Renown, winner:

On scoring his second graded victory of Keeneland’s 2016 fall meet following the Alcibiades (G1) on October 7 aboard Dancing Rags:

“I love Keeneland. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful.”

On his victory aboard Renown:

“I had a perfect trip. The horse broke a little slow, and I just left him right there and took position. In the far turn, I had so much horse that I went wide and just circled the field.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey Bigger Picture, second:

“I broke very well. The other horses beat us (out of the starting gate) and I let them go. I felt like I had a chance, but the other horse (Renown) kept coming and my horse kept fighting. He ran a good race.”

Marcelino Pedroza Jr., jockey Bullards Alley, third:

“My trip was good. I was behind the speed. It was a slow pace. When the winner came to me, I tried to go with him. He ran good. I can’t complain.”