Much like his second-level allowance race win in late August at Saratoga Race Course, Federal Decide opened a transparent benefit early and drew off late to publish a 5 1/2-length victory within the $314,275 Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
On a observe the place velocity fared nicely all through the day, Federal Decide broke in good order from the rail underneath Flavien Prat and seemed nicely inside himself via a quarter-mile in :21.62. He put away a little bit of a problem from Comedy City after a half-mile in :43.97 then drew off to the simple victory.
With the trouble, the speedy 4-year-old Military Mule gelding campaigned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm secured the primary graded stakes win of his profession. The constant Federal Decide nailed down his fourth win in six profession begins and getting into gave the impression to be a superb match for the observe Friday. Within the 4 essential observe races earlier than the Phoenix, two winners led at each level of name and the opposite two rallied from simply off the tempo in second.
“It was a giant win; we’re pleased with the horse, pleased with the trouble,” coach Brad Cox mentioned. “Clearly simply primarily based off of what we have seen from the sooner races, velocity’s good, rail’s good, so we’ll see. We walked within the paddock and felt it may undoubtedly profit him, and it appeared to have however we’re pleased with the trouble.”
The Phoenix is a Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence: Win and You are In race that awards a fees-paid begin within the Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Whereas it could be simply his third begin in a graded stakes, Cox mentioned they’re going to contemplate that choice. In his solely different graded stakes begin, Federal Decide completed fourth in final yr’s Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.
“It is a thought,” Cox mentioned. “We’ll discuss it over with the WinStar workforce and the Siena Farm workforce and give you a sport plan pretty fast. It is undoubtedly one thing we’ll discuss over the subsequent few days.”
Elliott Walden on Federal Decide’s Phoenix Stakes Win
Despatched off because the second alternative at 8-5, Federal Decide accomplished the six-furlong take a look at in 1:08.20 on a quick observe. He was adopted dwelling by even-money favourite Nakatomi in second and Comedy City, who entered off back-to-back stakes wins at Gulfstream Park, in third.
Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Nakatomi entered off a victory within the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) July 27 at Saratoga. As Nakatomi sometimes comes from off the tempo, coach Wesley Ward thought the 5-year-old son of Firing Line ran nicely to surge previous 4 horses to say second.
“Hopefully that units us up nicely for the Breeders’ Cup (Dash),” mentioned coach Wesley Ward.
Bred in Florida by Caperlane Farm, Federal Decide is the primary starter for the profitable Congaree mare Congarette. Maverick Racing went to $200,000 to buy Federal Decide from the Gainesway consignment on the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale.
Federal Decide is the primary graded stakes winner this yr for Military Mule, who stood the season for $25,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa close to Paris, Ky.
