Emphatic Stuns Summer Starlet at Keeneland, Sets Track Record

Keeneland's fall meeting got off to a thrilling start on Friday with several high-profile races, including the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1), won by Emphatic. The daughter of Nyquist, owned by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, took down the undefeated Summer Starlet in the 1,700-meter dirt race, setting a new track record of 1:43.40.

The win marked the fastest time for the distance on Keeneland's dirt since Silverbulletday in 1998. Summer Starlet had been looking to maintain her winning streak after taking down the Spinaway Stakes (G1) earlier this season, but was ultimately defeated by Emphatic's strong performance.

Nakatomi also made headlines with a back-to-back victory in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2), capturing the race for the second consecutive year. The 7-year-old veteran, trained by Wesley Ward, stopped the clock at an identical time of 1:09.93 as his previous win.

Serenas Ghost pulled off a surprise upset in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2) on the turf course, winning her second start and guaranteeing a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).