Cage Fighter Claims First Stakes at Parx
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Matthew Schera's Cage Fighter got a perfect stalking trip and kicked clear in the stretch to capture his first stakes in the $200,000 PTHA President's Cup Sept. 12 at Parx Racing.
With a yielding Parx turf course, all but four horses were scratched. Morning-line favorite and Oceanport Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Heart to Heart was one of those whose connections opted not to run.
Cage Fighter sat a length off pacesetter Chamois through fractions of :25.86, :51.53, and 1:15.95 through six furlongs, rallied past in the turn and maintained his advantage to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Divine Oath, who closed from last. Margano, winner of the 2014 edition, was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, followed by Chamois.
Trained by James Lawrence, II and ridden by Joshua Navarro, the 5-year-old son of Closing Argument hit the wire in 1:53.74 for 1 1/8 miles.
Bred in Florida by Craig Wheeler, out of the Pulpit mare Untamed Passion, Cage Fighter now has a 6-4-2 record from 15 career starts and earnings of $348,471.