Divine Oath Handles Stretch Out in McKnight

Divine Oath (Broken Vow), the lone sophomore in the field for yesterday’s GIII W. L. McKnight H., remained perfect in three appearances over this turf course and stamped himself one to watch for middle- to longer-distance tests in 2015. 

A maiden and allowance winner here last winter, Divine Oath failed to draw in off the also-eligibles for Keeneland’s GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and was rerouted for that track’s GIII Coolmore Lexington S. the following weekend, where he finished a good second to Mr Speaker (Pulpit). Fourth to Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the May 31 Penn Mile S., the bay parlayed a perfect trip in the GIII American Derby at Arlington July 12, knifing through at the rail to score by a 
half-length. Nearly 20 lengths off a modest tempo in the GI Secretariat S. back in suburban Chicago Aug. 16, Divine Oath was well-held in sixth behind Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but atoned for that defeat with another rail-skimming success in the GIII Kent S. at Delaware Sept. 20. Prominent throughout in the GII Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Oct. 31, he came with a late run, but fell a half-length short behind fellow East Coast raider Long On Value (Value Plus). 

Drawn three from the outside, Divine Oath was off without incident and was able to cross all the way down into about the two path as Rapscallion (Speightstown) led from Margano (Dynaformer) and Midnight Aria (Midnight Lute), each of whom showed speed from wide gates. Fixador (Brz) (Crafty C T), a four-time Group 1 winner in his native Brazil, joined the fray passing the stands with a lap to run, while Javier Castellano dropped Divine Oath onto the back of Midnight Aria. Those positions remained largely unchanged until Castellano asked his mount for a bit of run to improve his position and confront the pacesetters three wide at the final turn. Asked for his best at the head of the stretch, Divine Oath surged to the front with relative ease and held sway late as Fixador gave game chase. Manchurian High (The Daddy) came from the backfield to round out the trifecta. 

“The race set up well for him today and Javier rode him very well,” assistant trainer Tristan Berry commented. “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.”

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
W. L. MCKNIGHT H.-GIII, $100,000, GPX, 12-27, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:34 1/5, gd. 
1–DIVINE OATH, 116, c, 3, by Broken Vow 
     1st Dam: Rejoicing, by Forestry 
     2nd Dam: Pennant Champion, by Mr. Prospector 
     3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account 
($200,000 yrl ’12 KEESEP). O-Let’s Go Stable; 
B-Sanford R Robertson (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; 
J-Javier Castellano. $57,040. Lifetime Record: 
9-5-1-1, $416,890. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fixador (Brz), 116, c, 4, Crafty C. T.–Nein (Brz), by 
Know Heights (Ire). O-Stud Vicenza; B-Haras Valente 
(Brz); T-Eduardo Caramori. $18,400. 
3–Manchurian High, 115, g, 6, The Daddy–Corredor’s 
Wind, by El Corredor. ($28,000 RNA wnlg ’08 
OBSOCT; $1,000 yrl ’09 OBSAUG; ). O/T-Lilli 
Kurtinecz; B-Greg Norman (FL). $9,200. 
Margins: HF, 1, 1HF. Odds: 4.40, 47.50, 10.30. 
Also Ran: Unitarian, Margano, St. Albans Boy, Slumber (GB), Royal Blessing, North Slope, Dashing David (Ire), Avie’s Quality, Rapscallion, Midnight Aria. 
Scratched: Calvados (Arg), Developer, Greengrassofyoming. 
Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.