Kharafa set for 9-year-old debut in Elusive Quality

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The veteran New York-bred gelding Kharafa will make his 9-year-old debut in the $125,000 Elusive Quality Stakes next Saturday at Belmont Park, trainer Tim Hills said.

It will be the third straight year that Kharafa will begin his campaign in the Elusive Quality. He finished second behind Disco Partner last year and fifth behind A Lot in 2016. Hills said he is using the Elusive Quality as a stepping-stone to the Kingston Stakes for New York-breds on May 28.

Kharafa has won 12 races, including seven stakes, from 45 starts and has earned $1.1 million.

On Friday at Gulfstream Park West, Kharafa worked four furlongs in 49.18 seconds, his 10th breeze of the year.

“He’s 9 years old, but if he’s lost a step, you’d never know it in his training,” Hills said. “Cool horse. I’m going to miss him when he’s gone.”

Hills said Kharafa already has a spot secured at Old Friends in Kentucky when he’s done racing. Coincidentally, his former New York-bred rival Lubash is at Old Friends.

Entries for the Elusive Quality are to be taken Sunday. Others expected to run include Blind Ambition, Commute, Conquest Panthera, Ready for Rye, and possibly Bolting.