1st-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 5-24, 2yo, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.53, ft, head.
SOONTOBEKING (c, 2, King for a Day–Swayed, by Freud) ran third on debut May 10 sprinting five panels on a muddy main track facing state-bred rivals. Moved to the barn of Mitch Friedman as his former trainer George Weaver is under a provisional suspension enforced by HIWU, Soontobeking made all the right moves late in his second try to graduate.
First bobbling at the break and then bumping with a rival soon after, the only runner in the field with experience had to put it to work here, but was making up ground on the leading duo as they swung through the bend. Under steady encouragement as the distance between him and Classic Time (Classic Empire) shrunk, the 5-2 shot just snuck in to deny the longtime leader by a head, becoming King for a Day (by Uncle Mo)'s first winner as a freshman sire in the process.
#3 Soontobeking breaks his maiden at second asking in R1 at #TheBigA under Eric Cancel for trainer Mitchell Friedman! 👑
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/W1Z3xa9xof
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 24, 2024
Soontobeking is the first to the races for four-time winning dam Swayed, who has since produced a yearling colt by Cairo Prince. She is due to Mind Control for 2024. Sales history: $80,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $58,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Our Blue Streaks Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds; B-Our Blue Streaks Stable & SGV Thoroughbreds (NY); T-Mitchell E. Friedman.
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