4th-GP, $36,400, Msw, 2-18, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:23.54, ft.

ASCEND (g, 4, Candy Ride {Arg}–Ghost Dancing {SW, $163,897}, by Silver Ghost) reported home fourth sprinting at first asking at Delaware June 3, but dropped a spot trying a grassy mile at the Spa Aug. 8. The lightbulb came on, however, in his next two starts, as he turned in a pair of runner-up finishes stretched to nine furlongs there later that month and again over yield turf at Keeneland Oct. 4. Sent off at 7-2, the 4-year-old raced at the tail of the tightly bunched field and began to make up ground approaching the far turn. Launched three deep by John Velazquez, Ascend swooped up the center of the track six wide and stormed home to win by four lengths over favored Onlytheshadowknows (Ghostzapper), giving trainer Graham Motion his first winner of the Championship Meet. The winner is a half to Moro Tap (Tapit), GSP, $161,816; and a yearling colt by Trappe Shot. Ghost Dancing was bred back to Quality Road.

Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-0, $55,930.

O/B-Stone Farm (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.