Necker Island Wins Mighty Beau in a Field Reduced to 3
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Photo: Coady Photography
Necker Island (inside) defeats Yes I Am Free to win the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park
When a faulty sprinkler forced the Mighty Beau Stakes off the turf June 18 at Ellis Park, a three-way match race resulted in the $225,000 sprint, with the hard-knocking Necker Island coming out on top.
While prepping the racetrack before today’s opener, the @EllisParkRacing maintenance crew discovered there was a broken sprinkler head on the turf at mid-stretch. That area the turf will not be able to dry out before today’s grass races (7 and 9). Out of an abundance of caution…
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) June 18, 2023
Since being claimed for $100,000 by trainer Chris Hartman in the summer of his 3-year-old season, Necker Island has earned more than $700,000 racing for the Scherr Boys colors. A multiple-stakes winner on the dirt, he was one of the few that welcomed the last-minute surface change while seven other lawn specialists scratched Sunday afternoon.
Stalking the front-running YES I AM FREE along the inside fence behind early fractions of :23.09 and :45.47, the Hard Spun gelding attempted to roll by the leader but was forced to take back slightly before daring another charge up the pine. In their second bid, they were successful. Under jockey Mitchell Murrill, Necker Island slipped through on the inside and battled YES I AM FREE to the wire, prevailing by a neck in a final time of 1:03.64 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast main track.
Charcoal was a distant third and trailed after the first quarter-mile.
Improving his bankroll to the cusp of the millionaire mark with $996,357, Necker Island returned $5.74 for a $2 win ticket.
A $250,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling, Necker Island is the sole stakes winner produced from the Mr. Greeley mare Jenny's Rocket.