Divine Oath Holds On in McKnight Handicap

By Jerry Bossert



Facing older horses for the first time in his career proved no problem for Divine Oath as he held on to top the field in the $100,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT)  on the turf at Gulfstream Park Dec. 27.



Taking command at the top of the stretch under Javier Castellano, 3-year-old Divine Oath was all out late to hold off the late run from 47-1 shot Fixador to notch his fifth win from nine career starts. Making his first start at the McKnight's 1 1/2-mile distance, he improved his record to 3-for-3 over Gulfstream's turf course as the 4-1 third choice.



"The race set up well for him today and Javier rode him very well," said Tristan Berry, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher. "This horse has been training great."



Let's Go Stables' Divine Oath was bred in Kentucky by Sanford R. Robertson and is by Broken Vow   out of the dam Rejoicing, by Forestry.



Racing in fifth early on in the field of 13 as outsider Rapscallion set the early pace through six furlongs in 1:17.51 and a mile in 1:44.38, Divine Oath shot to the lead inside the quarter pole, opening a one-length advantage mid-stretch and holding off Fixador to prevail by a half-length.



"It set up perfect for him," Castellano said. "I had the 13 post, but the way the race developed he was able to save some ground. He lost ground a little bit on the first turn but you don't want to be boxed in on the inside, especially in a four-turn race. You save some ground but sometimes you can lose the race that way. Thirteen was a lucky number for him today. I was able to save some ground and he responded very well the last part.



"The way he did it today was impressive," Castellano said. "For whatever reason he loves this track."



Divine Oath won the first two starts of his career over Gulfstream's turf course, breaking his maiden in his debut Jan. 18 before taking an allowance race Feb. 22.



The win in the McKnight was also his third in a grade III race after taking the American Derby at Arlington International Race Course July 12 and the Kent Stakes at Delaware Park Sept. 20.



"When you come down here this time of year there's only so many opportunities; sometimes you have to take a shot," Berry said of trying older horses. "The horse was training well and doing really well. You can't just leave him in the stall for the whole winter. It worked out great."



In his last start, Divine Oath finished a close third in the Twilight Derby (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 31, beaten just a half-length.



"He ran a good race in California, too, and came back and backed it up here today," Berry said. "It all worked out. We're happy to have this one, for sure. These long races are all pace sensitive. He settled very well and the way it set up, he was going to get the mile-and-a-half today. He's not a big, heavy horse. He's going to get over the ground well, and he did."



Divine Oath returned $10.80 to win, $6.60 to place and $4.80 to show after completing the distance in 2:34.25 over the turf course labeled good. Fixador paid $35.20 to place and $17.60 to show, while late-running Manchurian High was one length farther back and paid $7.60 to show.



Unitarian finished fourth and was followed out by Margano, St. Albans Boy, 2-1 favorite Slumber, Royal Blessing, North Slope, Dashing David, Avie's Quality, Rapscallion, and Midnight Aria.



Calvados, Developer, and Greengrassofyoming were all scratched.