Over a track kind to early speed, Federal Judge wires Phoenix Stakes

LEXINGTON, KY. - Trainer Brad Cox felt good as he put the saddle on Federal Judge for the Grade 2, $350,000 Phoenix Stakes on Friday’s opening-day card at Keeneland.

“Just based off of seeing some of the earlier races, speed’s good, rail’s good,” Cox said. Walking into the paddock, we felt it could definitely benefit him.”

Federal Judge broke running from the rail in the Phoenix, and on a track playing kindly to speed, raced all the way on the lead for a 5 1/2-length victory.

“Proud of the horse, proud of the effort, third start off the layoff,” Cox said of the lightly raced 4-year-old who he trains for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm.

With the win, Federal Judge earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, and Cox said the race will now be discussed with the ownership.

“We’ll come up with a game plan fairly quick,” Cox said.

Federal Judge ($5.48) broke sharply from the rail under Flavien Prat. Pursued by Comedy Town and Swirvin on his outside, he led the group of seven starters through an opening quarter-mile in 21.62 seconds. He rattled off the half in a sharp 43.97.

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“He broke sharp and got himself into the race,” Prat said. “It was a very good clip [but] he was comfortable.”

Turning for home, Federal Judge still had Comedy Town on his hip, but opened up easily when given his cue and was never seriously threatened to the wire. He stopped the clock in 1:08.20 for the six furlongs on a fast main track on an unseasonably warm October day.

Nakatomi, winner of the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga last out, turned in a good effort against the flow of the track to close from sixth for second, edging Comedy Town by a half-length.

They were followed by Here Mi Song, My Buddy B, Manny Wah, and Swirvin.

Federal Judge earned his first graded stakes victory while winning for the fourth time in six career starts. In his only prior stakes try, he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in June 2023 at Belmont Park, which turned out to be his last start in more than a year.

He returned to finish a close second in an allowance/optional-claiming race this July at Saratoga, then won by six lengths at the level last time out.

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