Java's War

Java's War by Randy Pfeil

The Blue Grass Stakes was probably the most exciting race I've seen live. And it was won by Java's War in the last step. Palace Malice seemed to be home free as they turned, but Keeneland makes front-runners earn the wire. Palace Malice's stride was shortening, he'd changed leads more than he should have, all while Java was inhaling ground out over the center of the track, swallowing Malice just at the wire where his jock, Julien Leparoux, crop in hand, pumped his fist in the Lexington sunlight.