Dede McGehee's homebred Agate (g, 2, Karakontie {Jpn}–More than Gracious, by More Than Ready) burst clear of a midstretch traffic jam and powered home to take the GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland Sunday and earn an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.Sent off at 7-2, Agate settled well off the pace of runaway leader Trim Castle (Collected) who had as much as seven lengths on the field while setting fractions of :22.39 and :46.27. The pacesetter's advantage quickly diminished nearing the stretch and a host of challengers lined up across the track down the lane. Agate, rallying along the rail, was tipped out three paths for racing room, moved in again to split horses, and bound to the lead once he saw daylight, sailing clear to win by two lengths. Bold Leadership (Not This Time) closed late for second and Real Goodbar (Authentic) was third. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.64.Agate graduated by a front-running 4 1/2 lengths when stretched to a mile over the Ellis lawn July 5. He was a troubled third in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes last time out Sept. 9. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1. O/B-Dede McGehee (KY). T-Kelsey Danner. Sunday, KeenelandCASTLE & KEY BOURBON S.-GII, $398,750, Keeneland, 10-4, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.64, fm.1–AGATE, 118, g, 2, by Karakontie (Jpn)1st Dam: More Than Gracious, by More Than Ready2nd Dam: Gracility, by Known Fact3rd Dam: Kuma, by Naevus1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-DedeMcGehee (KY); T-Kelsey Danner; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $232,500.Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $363,775. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for thefree Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Bold Leadership, 118, c, 2, Not This Time–Sweetened, byCandy Ride (Arg). ($875,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP). O-Repole Stableand St. Elias Stables LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY);T-Todd A. Pletcher. $75,000.3–Real Goodbar, 118, c, 2, Authentic–Bold Confection, byCandy Ride (Arg). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.($85,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP). O-Bayview Stables, Edwards,Mark and Trout, Mike; B-Louisiana Leasing, LLC & Rollins (KY);T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $37,500.Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.64, 2.57, 6.79.Also Ran: Popcorn, Mid American, Mad Mo, Hemingway, Blaring Ambition, Heracles, Trim Castle. Scratched: Let Em Know.Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPsVIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV. Congratulations to @kelseyjdanner as #2 AGATE wins the $400,000 Bourbon Stakes (G2) at @keenelandracing. @Tyler_Gaff up on the son of @gainesway Karakontie for @dedemcgehee. https://t.co/wAxAEwKZe8— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2026The post Karakontie’s Agate Bursts Free Late to Take the Bourbon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.