Here Mi Song caps huge weekend for Cross Traffic in Keeneland’s Commonwealth S. (G3)

For the second time in as many days on Saturday, Cross Traffic had a graded stakes winner at Keeneland, with Here Mi Song digging deeply to win the $300,000 Commonwealth S. (G3).

The win comes a day after Cross Traffic’s Defining Purpose won the Ashland S. (G1) and earned a trip to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Here Mi Song, who was making his start against graded company in the seven-furlong Commonwealth, was eighth off a rapid pace of :22.89 for the first quarter-mile. The gray/roan made a very impressive move around the turn, going widest of all to be head-to-head for the lead at the top of the stretch.

He battled the length of the stretch with Hoist the Gold, besting his foe by a neck on the wire in 1:23.42 on a fast track.

“Those last couple of races (two stakes starts at Turfway Park), he ran good but he had no place to go,” trainer William Stinson, Jr.  said. “When he got a clear run out there today, I said, ‘They’re going to have to run some to beat him this time.’”

Here Mi Song, 4, is owned by his breeder Nathan Hayden and is now 5-7-1 in 19 starts, with earnings of $563,193.