Karak Becomes First Black-Type Winner for Karakontie

Karak became the first black-type winner for her sire, Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Karakontie , when she rolled to an easy 2 1/2-length victory Aug. 3 in the $78,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Wesley Ward trainee sat the perfect stalking trip under Nik Juarez, just off blazing early fractions set by Ryan's Cat, before drawing away in the five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-olds. Now Is was second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Shield of Faith.

"Even though this filly has a lot of speed, I was hoping for someone to follow and hook onto, just the way we were able to do," said Juarez. "When Ryan's Cat was out there flying and we were just off of that one, I had a nice hold on my filly. When I got to the turn, she started making up ground willingly.

"Heading into the lane, as soon as I asked her, she proved herself to be much the best today."

Karak covered the five-eighths over a firm turf course in :57.08 after Ryan's Cat set early fractions of :20.93 and :44.24. She paid $3.40 to win.

Bred in Kentucky by Parrish Hill Farm, Amanda Roach Cole, and Karakontie Syndicate out of the Mujadil mare Down The Well, Karak was a $365,000 purchase by Breeze Easy from All Dreams Equine's consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. She also went through the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she was purchased for $22,000 by J.C. Corp. from Summerfield's consignment. Between the two, she was a $30,000 RNA consigned by Eaton Sales to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The victory was the bay filly's second in three starts and pushed her earnings to $95,000. She rebounded from a 15th-place showing over a soft turf course June 19 in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot.

"This filly was purchased to win, or to have a big chance at winning, at Royal Ascot," Ward said. "It took a little time to get over a few minor issues she had, and it was a rush job to get her to her first race and then to Ascot. When we got to Ascot, everything was just great, and then all of sudden there was a deluge. It didn't just rain. It was like someone opened the hot and cold faucets and just let them run full blast. As with most American-bred horses, they don't take well to the soft turf, and she didn't.

"But everything has been straightforward with her ever since. She has no issues at all now. She ran a beautiful race with fast fractions today. It was impressive that she kept going."

Karak became the first winner for Karakontie when she broke her maiden May 25 at Belmont Park. Karakontie, a homebred son of Bernstein, won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile at 3, the same year he won the French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) for Flaxman Holdings. He was one of the leading juveniles in Europe the season before, winning three races in four starts, including the Qatar Prix Jean Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium (G1) and the Prix La Rochette (G3). He entered stud in 2016 at Gainesway, where he stood the 2019 season for $10,000.