Making his second career start, and his first going two turns, Abraham, owned by WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC, scooted to a one-length victory going 1 1/8-miles Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-year-old colt by Distorted Humor is one of five Triple Crown nominees owned wholly or in partnership by WinStar. The quintet includes Delhomme, the third place finisher in the Grade 2 Remsen S. who is also co-owned by Twin Creeks.
Abraham, who was beaten just a nose in his 6 1/2-furlong debut a month ago at Gulfstream, proved up to the task when stretched out on Saturday. Sent off the 6-5 favorite over the sloppy going, Abraham battled closely with Squadron A until midway on the second turn, when Abraham began to edge clear. He came off the rail coming into the stretch to draw away by a couple of lengths, then held sway in the final furlong.
Twin Creeks was the winning bidder, at $300,000, when Abraham went through the Keeneland sales ring as a yearling in 2011. Bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farm, Abraham is the second foal out of the El Prado (IRE) mare Tabarin. Her family includes top-class runners such as Miss Isella, winner of the Falls City H., Louisville Distaff S., and Fleur de Lis S., all Grade 2 races at Churchill Downs; Sir Cherokee, winner of the Arkansas Derby (G2) and Ack Ack H. (G3), and the three-time listed winner Guam Typhoon.
