Holiday Star takes Sycamore Stakes for second time

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Always poised to strike, Holiday Star edged away in the drive Thursday in winning the Grade 3, $100,000 Sycamore Stakes for the second year in a row at Keeneland, defeating favored Charming Kitten by a half-length.

Last fall, it was the since-retired Rosie Napravnik who guided Pennsylvania-bred Holiday Star to a half-length victory for trainer Graham Motion in the Sycamore, a 1 1/2-mile turf race. This time, it was Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado who put the 5-year-old gelding in perfect position for the final quarter-mile.

“Edgar called it right,” said Motion, who was on hand from his Maryland base. “He didn’t want to be too far back, and he wanted him a little toward the outside because the turf is kind of chewed up near the inside. The horse is very consistent – pretty remarkable, really.”

Holiday Star, bred and owned by the Augustin Stable of George Strawbridge Jr., returned $9.20 as third choice after finishing in 2:33.06 over firm going. He now has won 6 of 19 starts and $311,019.

Patrioticandproud held a narrow lead over Market Outlook for much of the Sycamore trip, with Holiday Star among a group in close pursuit. Down the lane, Prado put him to a steady drive, and the others couldn’t match strides. Charming Kitten, the 2-1 favorite under John Velazquez, closed well from the outside to finish another half-length before St. Albans Boy.

Early in the day, the Sycamore lost its 2-1 morning-line favorite, Da Big Hoss, when trainer Mike Maker said the 4-year-old colt will run instead in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31. Xtra Luck was also an early scratch, leaving a field of nine older horses.

The $2 exacta (8-11) paid $34.20, the $1 trifecta (8-11-5) returned $206.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-11-5-2) was worth $241.36.

* One race earlier, Watershed ($2.80) went last-to-first in quick order when taking command of a first-level allowance and finishing the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in 1:26.58. A Godolphin Racing homebred, Watershed was making his third career start after a flashy maiden win and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, both at Saratoga. Joel Rosario was aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

* An ontrack crowd of 11,952 was larger than normal for a Thursday because many fans were on hand in perfect autumn weather while partaking of a Bluegrass doubleheader, with a University of Kentucky home football game following.