By My Standards bests Owendale in Alysheba S. (G2)

By My Standards topped a Spendthrift stallion exacta in Friday’s $400,000 Alysheba S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, with the son of Goldencents emerging victorious over Into Mischief’s Owendale by 1 ¾-lengths.

The victory marked the third Grade 2 win of the year for By My Standards, who also won last year’s Louisiana Derby (G2). Owned by Allied Racing Stable, the 4-year-old has now earned $1,764,430.

Mr Freeze hustled to the lead right out of the gate, but By My Standards, under Gabe Saez, was in close pursuit and was only a half-length from the front after the first half-mile in a tepid :49.93. By My Standards took command entering the stretch, with Owendale three-wide to his outside. By My Standards pulled away in the final furlong to stop the timer in 1:42.24 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast track.

“This horse got in some interesting pace scenarios in the last two starts and today Gabe gave him the perfect ride and sat a perfect trip the entire way around there,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “It’s kind of weird to think the Alysheba is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) but we’re going to go with it and hope to get there in November.”

By My Standards was bred in Kentucky by Don Ladd and sold for $150,000 at the 2018 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds. He is out of the multiple stakes winner A Jealous Woman.

Goldencents was the champion Second-Crop sire of 2019, and currently tops the Third-Crop sire list by graded stakes winners, graded stakes horses, winners and wins.