LEXINGTON, Ky. – There wasn’t much question of where Percy’s Bar’s connections would go to celebrate her dominant victory in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on opening day at Keeneland, a win that has propelled her to the Kentucky Oaks.
Following the traditional post-stakes champagne toast hosted by Keeneland, the crew decamped to a particular second-floor bar at Keeneland which had long been manned by the late Percy Pool, and thus had become affectionately known as “Percy’s bar” by the horsemen who frequented it.
“There was always a really long line there, trainers and people that come to the races every single day,” said Gatewood Bell, managing partner of Hat Creek Racing, which owns Percy’s Bar. “Us track rats would hang out here, and he was a good man, and sold me a lot of lucky beers before races and after races, and always had a smile on his face.”
There were plenty of smiles, including from children of Percy’s Bar’s connections as they played in a very crowded winner’s circle, with trainer Ben Colebrook saying he planned to send a copy of the photo to Pool’s daughters in Louisville. Pool, who died in February 2024 at age 86, retired in 2015 after more than four decades working at the Kentucky tracks, tending bar at Churchill Downs as well as Keeneland.
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“Records are meant to be broken, but I don’t know that they’ll ever break the record for how many people just fit into this winner’s circle with this filly,” Airdrie Stud’s Bret Jones said as he observed the scene. Airdrie stands Upstart, sire of Percy’s Bar, and Jones’s father, the late Brereton C. Jones, bred the filly.
“That’s what this is about: making lifetime memories,” Jones said. “These kids just made a lifetime memory today. They’ll remember this forever. That’s incredible. Just a very special day.”
Pool was well known by the major connections of Percy’s Bar, all locals. Bell, who is also Keeneland’s vice president of racing, said there are about 25 Hat Creek partners in on the filly. Colebrook is based at Keeneland’s Rice Road stable area year-round.
“I think he’d be proud that someone chose to name a horse for him,” Colebrook said. “I think he’d love it. I think for sure the Better Business Bureau of Lexington is going to be in good shape after [the Ashland]. I think a lot of celebratory dinners! You saw everyone here and all the families. It was a really, really, really cool winner’s circle.”
Percy’s Bar exited her Ashland victory, in which she cut the corner into the stretch and easily held sway by 2 1/4 lengths over favored Zany, in good order. She will do all of her serious training at Keeneland and will van down the highway to Churchill Downs at “the last second,” according to Colebrook. Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby entrants must be on the grounds by 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, the day entries will be taken for both races.
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Percy’s Bar came to the Ashland off a five-month layoff, owing to a harsh winter in Kentucky disrupting training schedules enough to render her less than perfect for an earlier prep race. She took her lone shot at making the Oaks in the Ashland.
Winner of her 2025 Keeneland spring debut and then the Debutante at Churchill Downs, Percy’s Bar showed herself to be of Grade 1 quality last year, finishing second in the Spinaway. She crossed the line first in the Alcibiades but was disqualified to second for interference. She then was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, finishing with interest despite being bounced off the rail in the stretch.
“She had a big year last year and experienced a lot of stuff,” Colebrook said. “Physically, she’s gotten a little stronger, so she’s able to carry her speed a little better. She’s just a stronger filly, and that’s what we were hoping for, because last year, she had a frame but she hadn’t quite filled out.”
Colebrook has saddled one Kentucky Derby starter, Raise Cain, who ran eighth in 2023. He is even more excited for this Oaks.
“I’ve run in the Derby, but I feel like, in my heart of hearts, I didn’t feel like we were leading one over there that could probably win,” he said. “This will be different, leading one over there for the Oaks that you really think you’ve got a shot with. She gives you a lot of confidence because she’s so special. She’s always gonna show up for you.”
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