Parchment Party has become the premier marathon horse in the country over the last 12 months, winning all four of his U. S. stakes starts.
The latest came Wednesday at Churchill Downs when the 5-year-old son of Constitution got a hard-fought win in the $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon.
Parchment Party’s only defeat over that span came when he shipped to Australia for the Melbourne Cup (G1) in early November.
In the 1 ½-mile Marathon, Parchment Party moved up from sixth to third at the midway point of the race, with Johny’s Rendevous setting the pace. Going three wide on the final turn, Parchment Party struck the front at the top of the stretch. Interceptor and Stowaway were both charging from the back of the pack and got within a neck of Parchment Party inside the final furlong. He was able to repel the challenges and pulled clear late to win by 1 ¼-lengths over the sloppy going.
“I knew that if we got in front too soon, he’d start waiting,” jockey John Velazquez said. “He gets about a length in front of them, and he wants to coast. I got after him, and he responds well to that. I had to work for it a little bit, but we got it done.”
Parchment Party is trained by Bill Mott for Pin Oak Stud LLC. His record now stands at 6-1-1 in 14 starts, with earnings of $716,055. Among his four stakes wins is the Belmont Gold Cup (G3).
Parchment Party was bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner American Patriot.
Constitution is in the top 10 on this year’s General Sire list and could well improve his standing with 10 horses entered in stakes over the upcoming weekend, including Chief Wallabee and Right to Party in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Pashmina in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
