Championofthenile broke on top and never relinquished his lead in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds Friday at Saratoga. The colt is one of 42 winners this year by Pioneerof the Nile, the runaway #1 Third Crop Sire and top 5 General Sire of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah.
Championofthenile, trained by Linda Rice for a partnership that includes Lady Sheila Stable, Iris Smith Stable and her trainer, made short work of his foes with a very quick break to the lead and pulling away handily in the stretch to get the distance in a very good 1:15.71 on a fast main track (VIDEO).
The winner, bred in New York by All Gold Racing LLC, is a half-brother to Leave the Light On, who won last year’s Remsen S. (G2) and the stakes winner Harlan’s Pure.
Rice purchased Championofthenile for $840,000 out of the Midlantic Two-year-olds in Training sale this past May, the highest price paid for a colt at the auction.
