Necker Island nips Yes I Am Free in off-turf Mighty Beau
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
Necker Island nailed Yes I Am Free near the wire for a neck victory in an off-the-turf edition of the $225,000 Mighty Beau Stakes on Sunday at Ellis Park.
The Mighty Beau was moved to the main track as the result of a broken sprinkler head on the Ellis turf that affected the condition of the course. While preparing the track for the day's races, the Ellis track maintenance crew discovered the broken sprinkler head on the turf at midstretch. It was determined that the affected area of the course would not be able to dry out before the day's scheduled grass races, both of which were moved to the main track. As a result, the Mighty Beau scratched from a field of 10 down to three runners, with Nobals and Bad Beat Brian, the top two choices on the morning line, among the scratches.
Yes I Am Free, a multiple graded stakes winner at Gulfstream Park, was sent away favored in the starting trio, and set the pace, leading by a length early through the quarter in 23.09 on the fast main track, and getting the half in 45.47. Necker Island raced in second throughout under Mitchell Murrill, slipped through on the inside turning for home to engage the leader, and prevailed in the duel.
The final time was 1:03.64.
After the top pair, it was 12 1/2 lengths back to Charcoal in third. Necker Island returned $5.74 for the win; there was no place or show wagering.
Necker Island, who was Grade 3-placed as a 3-year-old in 2020, has now won stakes in three consecutive seasons. He won the 2021 Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs and the 2022 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes at Ellis. Sunday's stakes victory, his first win in five starts this year for trainer Chris Hartman, pushed his career earnings closer to the millionaire mark, at $996,357.
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