Holiday Star Surges Late in Sycamore
Augustin Stable’s Holiday Star surged past the pace-setting Red Rifle at the sixteenth pole and went on to score a half-length victory in the 20th running of the $100,000 Sycamore (G3) before a Thursday afternoon crowd of 8,529.
Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Holiday Star covered the 1½ miles on a turf course labeled “soft” in 2:33.83.
The victory was the third of the day for Napravnik, who took over the lead in the Fall Meet rider standings with 10 wins through 10 days of the 17-day season.
It also was the third consecutive victory on the program for Motion and the first three-win day for a trainer at the meet. Motion scored his second Sycamore victory, following 2011 winner Sanagas (GER).
Red Rifle, the 9-5 favorite ridden by John Velazquez, led the field of six through leisurely fractions of :53.02, 1:19.84 and 1:45.69 with Holiday Star in closest pursuit. Red Rifle maintained his advantage until just past the eighth pole when Holiday Star drew even before edging clear in the final 100 yards.
Holiday Star is a 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred gelded son of Harlan’s Holiday out of the Deputy Minister mare Spring Star. The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Holiday Star’s earnings to $198,603 with a record of 13-4-2-2.
Holiday Star rewarded his backers with payoffs of $9.80, $4.20 and $3.20. Red Rifle returned $3 and $2.60 in finishing a half-length in front of Villandry, who paid $3.40 to show under Shaun Bridgmohan.
Tricky Hat (CHI) finished another 4¾ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Unitarian and Cozy Kitten.
Racing continues Friday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET that is highlighted by the 24th running of the $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) for 3-year-olds
fillies going
1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Pin Oak Valley View is the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:13 p.m. post time.
Source: Keeneland