Divine Oath Beats Elders in McKnight

Trying both older horses and 1 ½ miles for the first time proved to be no obstacle for Divine Oath in Saturday’s $100,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The lone 3-year-old in a field of 13, Divine Oath got a perfect ride from jockey Javier Castellano to come from off the pace and hold off late-running long shot Fixador by a half-length for his third Grade 3 victory on grass this year.

It was also the third win in as many starts at Gulfstream for the son of Broken Vow, who broke his maiden in his January 18 debut and returned to beat winners in February, both at 7 ½ furlongs. All three victories came with Castellano aboard.

“When you come down here this time of year, there’s only so many opportunities,” said Tristan Berry, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “Sometimes you have to take a shot. The horse was training well and doing really well. You can’t just leave them in the stall all winter. We’re happy to have this one, for sure.”

Sent off at 4-1, Divine Oath ($10.80) had never run past 1 ¼ miles, when he finished sixth in the Secretariat (G1) in August. He captured the American Derby (G3) at 1 3/8 miles and Kent (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, and was a narrow second in the Twilight Derby (G2) on October 31 at Santa Anita in his most recent start.

“The race set up well for him today, and Javier rode him very well,” Berry said. “This horse has been training great. He ran a good race in California, too, and came back and backed it up here today. It all worked out.”

Owned by Let’s Go Stable, Divine Oath drew post 13 in the McKnight, contested for the first time at Gulfstream Park after previously being run at Gulfstream Park West since 1972. Castellano was able to rate near the frontrunners behind a modest pace set by Rapscallion, who led through a quarter-mile in 25.42 seconds, a half-mile in 51.19 and six furlongs in 1:17.51.

Divine Oath took command approaching the quarter pole, opened a clear lead in mid-stretch and had enough left to turn back a rally from 45-1 Fixador. It was another length back to Manchurian High in third, who was followed under the line by Unitarian, Margano, St. Albans Boy, favored Slumber, Royal Blessing, North Slope, Dashing David, Avie’s Quality, Rapscallion and Midnight Aria.

“It set up perfect for him,” Castellano said. “I had the 13 post, but the way the race developed he was able to save some ground. He lost ground a little bit on the first turn but you don’t want to be boxed in on the inside, especially in a four-turn race. You save some ground but sometimes you can lose the race that way. Thirteen was a lucky number for him today. I was able to save some ground and he responded very well the last part.”

Divine Oath ran 1 ½ miles in 2:34.25 over a turf course rated good and now has five wins, one second and one third for $416,890 in purse earnings from nine starts.

“These long races are all pace sensitive,” Berry said. “He settled very well and the way it set up, he was going to get the mile and a half today. He’s not a big, heavy horse. He’s going to get over the ground well, and he did.”

Source: Gulfstream Park Communications