Let’s Go Stable’s Divine Oath was much the best as the 4-5 favorite in
Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,250
Kent Stakes
for three-year-olds at
Delaware Park.
The Todd Pletcher charge was content rating off the pace down on the inside
as Lafontaine, who was making his first start away from Woodbine, led the field
through splits of :23 3/5, :47 3/5 and 1:12 1/5.
Divine Oath started to move in on the leaders coming around the far turn,
surged through an opening along the rail turning for home and took control at
the top of the stretch. Eventual runner-up, Bashart attempted to challenge the
leader in midstretch, but Divine Oath was too much as he pulled clear late to
prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Divine Oath covered 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf in 1:47.78, which was .51
off the course record set by Optimzer in September 2012. With Jose Caraballo
aboard, the bay colt paid $3.60 to his loyal supporters for his second graded
stakes win.
Bashart got up for second by a length over third-place finisher Other Cheek.
Lafontaine, Craftsman, Cabo Cat and Gadget Man rounded out the order of finish.
Divine Oath broke his maiden in his racing debut over the turf at Gulfstream
Park on January 18 and captured an allowance race at the same venue the
following month. The bay finished runner-up in his stakes bow in the Grade 3
Lexington over the Keeneland Polytrack on April 19 and was fourth back on the
grass in the Penn Mile on May 31. He captured his first stakes in the Grade 3
American Derby on July 12 and was exiting a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1
Secretariat Stakes on August 16 at Arlington. The son of Broken Vow has a career
record that stands at 7-4-1-0 and $335,850 in lifetime earnings.
Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Divine Oath is out of the Forestry
mare Rejoicing. His grandam is Pennant Champion, who is a full sister to Grade 1
victors Miner’s Mark and Traditionally.
The bay’s third dam is undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign, the 1988
champion older mare as well as 1996 Broodmare of the Year. Personal Ensign
produced multiple Grade 1 scorer My Flag, who in turn produced 2002 champion
two-year-old filly, Storm Flag Flying. Divine Oath’s fourth dam is 1988
Broodmare of the Year, Grecian Banner. His female family also boasts multiple
Grade 1 winner Personal Flag and Grade 1 victor Mr Speaker.
Divine Oath sold as a yearling for $200,000 at the Keeneland September sale.
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