Backyard Heaven served notice he will be a horse to reckon with in the handicap division this season after posting an impressive victory over five rivals including 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming in the Grade 2 Alysheba. 

Backyard Heaven, a 4-year-old son of Tizway owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, stalked the early pace of the 9-5 favorite Always Dreaming, readily took command near the three furlong marker, drew well clear entering the stretch and was not seriously menaced thereafter. Hawaakom(26-1), winner of the Grade 3 Razordback earlier this season, slipped along the rail to outfinish 2017 Travers hero Good Samaritan for second. Always Dreaming faded steadily through the stretch, checking home a disappointing fifth making his first appearance at Churchill Downs since his victory in last year's Derby.

The win was the third in a row for Backyard Heaven, who is trained by Chad Brown and was ridden to victory by Irad Ortiz Jr.. He paid $6.40.