BY BROCK SHERIDAN
St. Elias Stables LLC’s homebred Rated by Merit lived up to his 2-5 odds in dominating the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the first of three legs in the colts and geldings division of the $1.2 million Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 7 Trained by Michael Yates and ridden to victory by Jesus Rios, Florida-bred Rated by Merit set a stakes record of 1:09.45 for six furlongs, besting the 1:09.49 set by Three Rules in the 2016 Dr. Fager. The effort equated to a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, second highest among 2-year-old colts or geldings in North America this year behind only the 96 Beyer number achieved by Ferocious at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3.
The Dr. Fager was the co-feature on Saturday’s Gulfstream card with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for 2-year-old fillies eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes.
Rated by Merit turned heads nationally in his debut, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by nearly 10 lengths in 1:10.50 and producing a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The impressive Beyer number was at the time tops among all 2-year-olds in North America and currently ranks second among juvenile colts and geldings behind the 96 set by Ferocious at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3.
Despite the high expectations, Yates said he was confident Rated by Merit would produce another big performance.
“I wouldn’t say that I felt like I was under a lot of pressure,” Yates said. “I mean, the horse was doing well. I’ve had a lot of other ones that [put] more pressure on me than him.
“He’s very uncomplicated. He does things very easy and he’s a fast horse. He’s one of the least complicated horses we have in the barn. So I haven’t really felt a lot of pressure to be honest with you. I’m very happy.”
Rated by Merit broke on top from the outside post eight but had to settle for second down the backstretch as Neoequos and jockey Miguel Vasquez sprinted to a one-length advantage. Neoequos maintained a clear magin on Rated by Merit through a rapid :21.73 quarter mile as Classic of Course stalked those two while racing on the inside.
Around the turn, Rated by Merit ranged up to challenge Neoequos as Classic of Course began to get closer with a ground saving trip as they blazed through the half-mile in :44.91.
Rios began to encourage Rated by Merit as they hit the top of the stretch and the son of Battalion Runner responded by switching leads and accelerating away from Neoequos and Classic of Course. Rios then went to a hand ride but Rated by Merit found one more gear inside the final sixteenth to finish six-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Neoequos in second. Classic of Course was another length-and-three-quarters back in third followed by Just Relax, Candycrumbs, Lawler, Zizka and I’mbiggerthanilook.
Rated by Merit paid $2.80 to win.
It was third victory in the Dr. Fager for Yates, who won with Cajun Firecracker in 2018 and Cajun’s Magic in 2021.
“It’s a big deal,” Yates said. “You breed in Florida and you want to have horses that can compete in the Florida Sire Stakes. They’re a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
“At the end of the day, it’s more about developing the horse. That’s the whole goal—to bring him along and develop him. He’s getting quite developed.”
Rated by Merit is out of Banner Waving, by Speightstown and has now earned $100,000 in two starts. He is the first stakes winner for Banner Waving and the second winner from three starters. She was bred to Battalion Runner in 2023.
