Last after the opening quarter-mile, Exfactor circled the field on the turn, took over at the top of the stretch, and ran away to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $111,500 Bashford Manor (gr. III) (VIDEO), the first graded race for 2-year-olds males this season July 2 at Churchill Downs.
Exfactor is owned by Stoneway Farm and trained by Bernie Flint. The son of Exchange Rate was bred in Kentucky by Bo Hirsch. He entered the six-furlong race off a decisive 4 1/2-length maiden special weight win June 9 at Churchill.
With Calvin Borel aboard, Exfactor was unhurried through the opening quarter, which went to Friscan in a sizzling :21.59. Friscan, with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons, continued to show the way through a half-mile in :45.61, while odds-on favorite Sum of the Parts pressed him in second.
Racing five-wide on the turn, Exfactor steadily gained on the pacesetters until taking over approaching the eighth-pole. He easily drew clear for the win, with Power World rallying late under Corey Lanerie to get second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Friscan. Sum of the Pats settled for fourth in a field of seven juveniles.
The final time on the fast dirt was 1:10.30.
Exfactor improved to 2-1-0 from three starts and earnings of $109,348. Out of the Prized mare Bright Magic, he was a $27,000 purchase from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2010 October yearling sale. The gray/roan colt was consigned by Hopewell Farm, agent.
“(His potential is) unlimited, because if I can keep him coming from behind like that we’ve got the Breeders’ Cup right here," Flint said. "He’s a special horse, he’s been a special horse, but I didn’t have him ready to run the first time. You can’t squeeze the lemon; you’ve got to be careful with what you do.
“ I’m just tickled to death at my age to have a horse like this. It doesn’t happen to a 71-year-old man, OK? But Mr. (James) Stone had enough faith in me to say ‘Let’s go out and let’s go get ‘em.’
The winner paid $12.60, $5.20, and $3.60. The exacta (4-3) returned $57 and the trifecta (4-3-11) was worth $379.40.