Kharafa to start in Ashley T. Cole Stakes for sixth straight year

ELMONT, N.Y. – The 9-year-old Kharafa, who upset last month’s West Point Stakes at 17-1 odds, will seek a fourth victory in Sunday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

Kharafa will be making his 51st start on Sunday, and this will be the sixth straight year he has run in the Ashley T. Cole, run at 1 1/8 miles over Belmont’s inner turf course. Kharafa, a gelding by Kitalpha trained by Tim Hills, won this race in 2013, 2015, and 2016. He finished third in 2014 and last year.

Thirteen were entered in the Ashley T. Cole, but Control Group and J. J.’s Dreaming were entered only for the main track. Kharafa drew post 2 but will break from the rail as Control Group drew the inside post.

Offering Plan, second to Kharafa in the West Point, likely will vie for favoritism with his Chad Brown-trained stablemate Call Provision, who hasn’t run in New York-bred company since he was beaten a nose by Get Jets in this race last year. Call Provision was second to his stablemate Focus Group in the John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga but was disqualified to fourth.

Others entered in the Cole are Red Knight, Winston’s Chance, Leaveematthegate, Gucci Factor, Hit It Once More, Black Tide, Tapitation and Rapt.