The taste of defeat is not something Foggy Night is accustomed to experiencing. So when the Khozan filly had the option of finishing outside of the winner’s circle for consecutive races—something she hadn’t done since last year—or rise to the occasion, it shouldn’t be a surprise which choice she made.
Shadowing the lead for most of the race, the chestnut made her move around the final turn and took the lead at the top of the stretch before staving off any challenges to win the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia Stakes at Parx Racing Aug. 22.
Yesternight started off strong, leading the field from the gate. With her setting the tone, the other six fillies were happy to bide their time over the one-mile and 70-yard race. Approaching the half-mile mark, Yesternight found herself sandwiched between Majestic Creed on her outside and Foggy Night along the rail.
As they came out of the final turn, Foggy Night, with Luis Saez in the irons, moved with a purpose. Foggy Night wrested the lead at the sixteenth pole and pulled away for a 2 1/4-length win in 1:47.34.
Yesternight, who finished second, posted fractional times of :23.89, :49.29, 1:15.23, and 1:42.72. Majestic Creed was third.
A $2 win bet returned $7.20.
Foggy Night was bred in Florida by Brent and Crystal Fernung. She is owned by Pine Brook Farm and is trained by Robert Reid Jr. She was purchased by Pine Brook for $20,000 out of the Journeyman Bloodstock Services consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
She is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Settling Seas, who has eight foals, seven starters, and five winners.
Khozan stands at Journeyman Stud for $6,500.
Video: Cathryn Sophia S. (BT)
Il Miracolo Takes Smarty Jones
Il Miracolo , a son of Gun Runner , is no stranger to big stages. Having run in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Florida Derby (G1), the setting for the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) was exactly what he was looking for.
Racing outside the early leaders, Il Miracolo moved ahead through the turn and, despite going extremely wide down the stretch, pulled away for his first graded stakes victory. He stopped the clock in 1:48.59.
Il Miracolo wins the Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing
Cagliostro finished second and Daydreaming Boy third. A $2 win bet returned $9.60. Army Times, who led through the first half-mile of the 1 1/16-mile race with fractional times of :24.31 and :49.32, faded to sixth. Il Miracolo added times of 1:14.64 and 1:41.39.
Bred by Willow Oaks Stable in Kentucky, Il Miracolo is owned by Eduardo Soto and trained by Antonio Sano.
The chestnut colt was sold three times, most recently at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company June 2-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale. Soto bought him for $70,000 out of the De Meric Sales consignment.
Il Miracolo is out of the Tapit mare Tapit’s World. She has five foals, four starters, and three winners. Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm for a private fee.
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