York: Hoof It makes group stakes debut in Nunthorpe Stakes

On Friday, Hoof It, a winner of 3 of 4 starts this year, makes his group stakes debut in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over a straightaway five furlongs at York.

VIDEO: Nunthorpe Stakes preview and live stream from York

Trained by Michael Easterby, Hoof It won a minor handicap at York in May and was seventh in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He won two races a week apart last month – the Sky Bet Dash at York on July 23 and the 27-runner Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood on July 30.

Hoof It will be favored in the Nunthorpe, which drew a field of 17, including Bated Breath, second in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket last month; and Masamah and Requinto, winners of group stakes at Goodwood in late July.

The Nunthorpe is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, offering a fees-paid berth in this fall's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.

BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE: Racing schedule, replays, and past winners »