Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr.’s Hoofit (NZ) edged Aikenite by a nose in the 159th
running of the $175,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3). Hoofit is not
nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, and his owner would have to ante up a
$200,000 supplement for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to be
run November 5 at Churchill Downs.
In
the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, favored Flashpoint and Sterling Outlook
dueled through early fractions of :22.10 and :45.15 with Hoofit racing
in the second tier of horses and Aikenite at the back of the seven-horse
field.
Approaching
the far turn, Prado kept Hoofit toward the rail while Velazquez angled
to the outside with Aikenite. At mid-stretch, Hoofit shot past
Flashpoint on the inside and Aikenite went by on the outside as the two
raced as a team to the wire with Hoofit getting the nod.
Trained
by Graham Motion, Hoofit returned $25.60, $10 and $5.20. Aikenite
returned $3.40 and $2.60 with Hamazing Destiny, ridden by Robby
Albarado, finishing 1¾ lengths back in third and paying $3.40 to show.
Completing the order of finish were Flashpoint, Cool Bullet, Southern
Style and Sterling Outlook.
The
victory was worth $105,000 and increased Hoofit’s earnings to $182,721
with a record of 18-4-3-1. A 4-year-old gelded son of Mossman (AUS) out
of the Danehill mare Chuckle (AUS), Hoofit is undefeated in two starts
in the United States.
It was the 36th Keeneland stakes victory for Prado and the 14th here for Motion.