Graham's heads-up ride gives Red Knight a clear path to victory in Sycamore

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Red Knight got a terrific ride from James Graham while continuing to flash peak form in a two-length, stakes-record victory Thursday in the 26th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Sycamore over a firm turf course at spectator-free Keeneland Race Course.

Covered up in a comfortable spot near the inner rail while racing in mid-pack for more than a mile, Red Knight began angling out in the last of three turns in the 1 1/2-mile Sycamore. Given his head when clear, the 6-year-old gelding zipped to the lead leaving the furlong grounds in a second straight sparkling effort since returning to action this fall for his Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott.

“Everything went great,” said Graham, who previously won the Sycamore in 2007 aboard Transduction Gold. “When I asked him for his best, he sure gave it to me.”

Red Knight, a New York-bred owned by Trinity Farm, returned $6.80 as the favorite in a field of 10 older horses. He finished in 2:28.81, breaking the stakes mark of 2:29.55 set in 2003 by Sharbayan.

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On a cloudy and chilly afternoon, Postulation set the pace as expected after breaking cleanly from his rail post, with the Mike Maker pair of Aquaphobia and Big Agenda giving closest chase. Down the stretch, as Postulation held grimly to the lead, Red Knight pushed past with about 200 yards remaining under steady Graham urging, with only the minor placings to be decided thereafter. Postulation held second in a tight three-way photo, with Ziyad third and North Dakota fourth.

Red Knight now has eight wins and six seconds from 21 career starts. He was a sharp second behind Arklow when returning from a 7 1/2-month layoff in his previous start, the Sept. 12 Kentucky Turf Cup, and now could run back in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf, which will be run over the same course and distance as the Sycamore. That determination will be made in the coming days, said Kenny McCarthy, the longtime Mott assistant.

The $2 exacta (2-1) paid $44.60, the $1 trifecta (2-1-10) returned $117.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-1-10-7) was worth $188.82.

The Sycamore was the first of four straight graded stakes here this week. It will be followed by the Grade 3 Valley View on Friday, the Grade 2 Raven Run on Saturday, and the Grade 3 Dowager on Sunday.