Highway Robber saves ground, gets up in track-record time to take Sycamore
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A 1 1/2-mile race, you figure post position can’t make a huge difference, right? Wrong. Highway Robber broke from post 3, Bold Act from post 11, and that was the difference between victory for the former and a nose defeat for the latter in the Grade 3, $289,000 Sycamore Stakes on Friday at Keeneland.
While Highway Robber hugged the rail most of the Sycamore’s three turns, Bold Act got no closer to the fence than the No. 2 path, and on the final turn was pushed four or five wide. Tyler Gaffalione, riding his fourth winner of the day, jumped off the fence at the quarter pole, got onto Bold Act’s tail, and Highway Robber had just enough to wear down Bold Act for a head-bobbing score.
Bold Act was denied a second straight win in the Sycamore, though he ran at least as well Friday as he had last October. Both horses, boosted considerably by warm, dry conditions and a fast-playing course, ran 1 1/2 miles on turf in a quicker time than ever had been posted at Keeneland, Highway Robber clocking 2:26.08. Second by a half-length last month in the $2 million Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, Highway Robber picked up a $172,000 consolation prize in the Sycamore for owners Susan and Jim Hill and trainer Brian Lynch.
Highway Robber, a late-blooming 4-year-old by Hard Spun out of Yabba, by Lemon Drop Kid, was bred in Kentucky by Foxpointe Thoroughbreds, and made just his 11th start Friday and had never run as far as 1 1/2 miles until the Turf Cup.
“He’s certainly trying to get better, and he’s certainly found his niche in these marathon races,” said Lynch.
Highway Robber raced from ninth, then eighth, then seventh as Cathkin Peak set a fast pace, 46.51 and 1:11.02, while chased by Dataman. Dataman, moving somewhat early, attacked past the three-furlong marker, easily made the lead, and came into the homestretch with a clear advantage before appearing to idle, waiting for rivals. They quickly pounced, Bold Act initially surging clear before Highway Robber took his measure.
“He does anything you ask him, has tremendous turn of foot,” Gaffalione said. “Obviously, he had to battle a little bit down the lane, but I was never worried.”
The top two proved much the best, Utah Beach, even more lightly raced than Highway Robber, snagging third, 4 1/4 lengths behind Bold Act and three-quarters ahead of Dataman. Among the other shorter prices, Tawny Port finished sixth at 9-2 and Ohana Honor was eighth at 6-1.
The winner paid $7.18, the favorite in the end beating the close second choice in a race to some extent decided, thanks to post positions, before it even began.
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