Dixiana Farms’ homebred favorite Forever After All swept to the front rounding the final turn and coasted to a 9-length victory in the $350,000 Bewitch (G3) Presented by Keeneland Sales today, closing day of Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet. The margin of victory equals the record for the race, set by Shore in the first division in 1966.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Brendan Walsh, Forever After All covered 1½ miles on a turf course rated as yielding in 2:35.56.

Forever After All paid $5.62, $3.34 and $2.32. Youknownothing finished second under Florent Geroux and returned $10.92 and $5.12. Immensitude (FR), ridden by Flavien Prat, was 6¼ lengths behind in third and paid $2.58 to show.

Dazzlin’ Dictator was another 3¾ lengths behind in fourth and was followed by Eternal Silence, Sabalenka and Sand and Sea.

A graduate of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, Forever After All is a 6-year-old mare by Connect out of Julia Tuttle, by Giant’s Causeway. She is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Tom’s d’Etat.

The Bewitch victory was worth $211,575 to Forever After All, who recorded her fourth win in 24 starts and increased her earnings to $782,454.

Quotes for the Bewitch (G3) Presented by Keeneland Sales

Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider of Forever After All)

“I just tried to follow the instructions. The turns (at Keeneland) are much better for her. She’s a big filly. She has a huge stride on her. I think these turns helped her a lot. She’s been running at Gulfstream and the firm turf and tight turns (there) don’t help her too much, but I think today she was very impressive. I just tried to stay close like (trainer) Brendan (Walsh) told me before the race. She was close enough, I think, to get there. By the three-eighths pole, she started making her stride and she did the rest, to be honest.”

Brendan Walsh (winning trainer)

“She’s been improving all year. It was great to see her do that. It’s fantastic. It’s great for Mr. (William) Shively (who owns Dixiana Farms) and all the team at Dixiana, so it’s great.”

On options going forward
“She’s actually in foal. She was bred about three or four weeks ago to Flightline, so we’re going to have a limited rest of our time with her: one, maybe two more runs. We might try to pick out a race or two and maybe try to give her a shot at a Grade 1 if one fits somewhere along the line.”

On being tied with Brad Cox for leading trainer of the Spring Meet
“You never (expect to have this kind of success) because it’s a super tough meet, but it’s been great. It’s thanks to the owners who supplied us with some great horses, but really it’s a tribute to my staff. They put in great work every day, so it’s a tribute to them. It’s all them.”

Florent Geroux (rider of runner-up Youknownothing)

“She was good. I mean we started at the back of the pack. It feels like there was a good pace in front of us, and all stopped except one (the winner). The farther the better (is best for her), and she belongs with those fillies. Hopefully she can win a graded stakes this year. It would be great for her.”

Flavien Prat (rider of third-place finisher Immensitude [FR])

“She ran a good race. She was struggling with the ground a bit.”