BY BROCK SHERIDAN
St. Elias Stables’ homebred Rated by Merit made a successful return after 10 months away from the races with a handy two-length victory in the $121,250 Discovery Stakes during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct Race Track. The Florida-bred colt, who swept last year’s male division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes, won against four other 3-year-old non-winners of a graded stakes, to remain undefeated in five career starts.
Dreambuilder, a winner of his last two at Parx Racing, broke best of all from post four but was quickly passed by Rated by Merit, who dragged jockey Manny Franco to front from post three. Rated by Merit was a neck in front of Dreambuilder through two furlongs in :22.96 with Light Forever and Uncaged together in third two lengths back. Rated by Merit separated from the field around the turn while trying to lug out a bit but he still clocked six furlongs in 1:09.05 while two-and-a-half lengths in front of Wise Up, a winner of two of four races, who was alone in second. Wise Up tried to get to the leader in the run for home but Rated by Merit held sway to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:33.45 on the fast track. Wise Up was second, 13 ¾ lengths in front of Light Forever in third. Uncaged and Dreambuilder completed the order of finish.
Rated by Merit paid $2.58 to win.
“[Rated by Merit is] a really fast horse, he just likes to get out a little bit,” Franco said. “I don’t want to grab him too much. I just tried to keep him chilled with a nice long hold. But he was happy. I just try not to get in his way. After that he was running and he never stopped.”
Rated by Merit was making his first start for trainer Chad Brown in his first race outside his native Florida.
Last year at Gulfstream Park, Rated by Merit became the 11th horse to sweep the male division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, taking the $100,000 Dr. Fager, $200,000 Affirmed and $300,000 In Reality by a combined 16 lengths.
He set the stakes record in the Sept. 7 Dr. Fager, covering six furlongs in 1:09.45; and the 99 Beyer Speed Figure he produced in winning the seven-furlong Affirmed on Oct. 19 was tops among all 2-year-olds in North America last year. He was assigned a 93 Beyer in winning the Dr. Fager and In Reality, both figures ranking in the top 10 among juveniles in North America in 2024. The 92 Beyer assigned to his nine-and-three-quarters-length maiden victory at Gulfstream on July 13 ranked in the Top 14.
Rated by Merit has now earned $468,750 in his five career victories.
Rated by Merit is by Battalion Runner out of Banner Waving, by Speightstown. Banner Waving has four foals, all starters, with three winners. Rated by Merit is her only stakes winner. She was bred to Liam’s Map in 2025.
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