American Patriot Makes the Grade in Kent
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Photo: Hoofprints, Inc.
American Patriot earns first stakes win in Kent Stakes at Delaware Park
WinStar Farm homebred American Patriot overhauled pacesetter He'll Pay in the stretch and edged away to win the $200,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 16 at Delaware Park.
A son of War Front trained by Todd Pletcher, American Patriot scored by 1 1/2 lengths and finished the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds in 1:47.19 on firm ground.
Jose Ortiz rated 9-5 favorite American Patriot in fourth, then third, as He'll Pay ticked off moderate early fractions—:24.61, :48,20, and 1:12 through six furlongs. The winner was ready to roll into the stretch and briefly engaged the front-runner before he secured the victory in the matter of a few powerful strides.
American Patriot, who has three wins and two thirds from six career starts, came in off three-length triumph in an allowance optional-claiming race at the same distance June 25 at Belmont Park.
Saturday's win was the first in a stakes for American Patriot, who was unplaced in the 1 1/16-mile American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) May 7 at Churchill Downs.
American Patriot is one of two winners from the winning Tiznow mare Life Well Lived, a full sister to 2009 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) victor Well Armed, also a grade I winner in the U.S. He is the 46th black-type winner for War Front.
American Patriot paid $5.40, $3.60, and $2.40. He'll Pay returned $12.40 and $4.80, and Inspector Lynley came on for third late to pay $2.80 to show.
Converge came in fourth, followed by Keystoneforvictory, Mighty Mo, and Madtap to complete the order or finish.