Pharoah Stakes (Grade 1) (BC)- $300.000 Purse
SA- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
September 27, 2019
It was a good day here at SA for Mb Stables and his two year olds, showing that once again next year we can expect him to have quite a few on the trail of both the KYD and the KYO. When Spirited Stride crossed the finish line first in the Pharoah Stakes, it marked the second consecutive year that Mb has won the race, and for Spirited Stride it is his fourth win in six starts, and he was not bothered by what was his third race in six weeks. Aboard the winner was R Bejarano, and it is a little surprising to see that this is just the first time that he has won this stake. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:41.85, which is similar to other past winning times of the race. Let’s have a look at it!
(1/4 Mile- :24.05)- Lake Success, from D J C Racing Stables, would be the quickest out of the gate and led up to the completion of the frontstretch run. Once he entered the turn, he would have some company, and would passed on each side. Midnight Special, from Allinthegate, did so on the outside and took the lead at this point. On his inside would be Nakamura Stables’ Geronimo, and he took over the second position. Behind these three by a length or so would be Customer Service (Mb Stables) and Jezza (Estero Stables), who would run side by side. Next, and trying to come between them would be Intaglio (Arindel). Next came our eventual winner, Spirited Stride, from Mb Stables. He would run in the third lane, and would be about four lengths from the front. To his inside on the rail was Orion Nebula (John Henry), our pick to win and the post-time favorite. Trailing were the The Mist (Rampage Stable), Ronaldo Chop (Night Rider Stables), and Cairn Toul (The Sidley Stud).
(½ Mile- :47.56)- In rounding the turn, and moving down the backstretch, both Midnight Special and Geronimo have pulled away from the rest of the field by two lengths. Between themselves, they are heads apart. Lake Success was restrained at the top of the backstretch, and is now fourth as Customer Service claims the third spot while having a good trip on the rail up to this point. Jezza dropped back just a bit, and is now the outside horse of a three wide group consisting of him, Orion Nebula, and Intaglio. Behind this, Spirited Stride was well set up in the money lane, five and a half lengths from the lead. Ronaldo Chop was on the rail, and possibly considering an advance while both The Mist and Cairn Toul ran at the back.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Moving around the final turn, the intensity picks up as one would expect. At the front, both Midnight Special and Geromino seemed fine at the top of the turn, but by the top of the stretch, they were sitting ducks. Geromino led by a head on Midnight Special for now, but the rivals were coming. Customer Service did not make a push yet, but a hole developed on the rail for him. Intaglio and Jezza pushed forward nicely, and Orion Nebula was also looking to come through. The favorite would have to maneuver through a lot of traffic, though. That would not be a problem for Spirited Stride, who stayed in the money lane, and was well position to utilize it, like we have seen a million times from our race engine. The gap was now just two and a half lengths to the lead, so there was plenty of time for him. Further back, it was clear that Ronaldo Chop, The Mist, and Cairn Toul were being left behind.
(Finish- 1:41.85)- A nice clean trip allowed Spirited Stride to take over the race in the race and get the win by a length. Intaglio would become his biggest challenger for a brief period but even he was no match for Spirited Stride who convincingly uses the money lane to grab the win. Intaglio is second, and it’s another length to the third place Geronimo, who was a head in front of a large photo for the fourth place check. Prevailing there would be Customer Service, over Orion Nebula, Jezza, Cairn Toul, and Midnight Special. Cairn Toul erupted at the top of the stretch, but needs to make that run sooner to contend for a win. The Mist, Lake Success, and Ronaldo Chop round out the running order.
About The Winner- Spirited Stride, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by R Bejarano, is a two year old gelding by Worst Case Scenario, and is out of Xmas Fox. He was bred in California by Mb Stables as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. The win is his fourth in six starts, and his second stake win, each of which are grade 1’s. His career earnings are now $408.000.
Track: Fast
Time: :24 :472 1:111 1:414
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 9 – 5 Paid 57.40
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 5 – 3 Paid 829.60
Scratched: Sweet Sweat
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
