Friend Or Foe wore down pacesetter General Maximus and drew clear to win the $100,000 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park on June 20.
Trained by John Kimmel, the homebred for Mary and Chester Broman Sr. remained undefeated in three career starts, with earnings of $103,800 after taking the Father’s Day feature. The son of Friends Lake broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park March 7 and won a state-bred allowance at Belmont on May 15.
Ridden by Rajiv Maragh in the Mike Lee, Friend Or Foe stalked General Maximus through fractions of :22.80 and :45.17 before drawing clear at the furlong pole. Friend Or Foe, paid $7.40, $3.70, and $2.40 as the 5-2 third choice in the field of five, while completing the seven furlongs in 1:21.68.
General Maximus was worthy $4.20 and $2.40, with Ibboyee, the 11-10 favorite, who broke slowly and was last early, paying $2.10 while rallying to finish third, 4 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Make Note and Raynick's Jet completed the order of finish. Fenway Faithful was scratched from the Mike Lee, the first leg of the Big Apple Triple for New York-bred 3-year-olds.
"Down the backside, the horse was moving very comfortably," said Maragh. "It was going to be a good horse race down the stretch, and my horse just prevailed. We think he’s a good horse. After running so strong in a seven-furlong race, he galloped out an extra three-eighths of a mile, which to me is a good indication he will go further."
Kimmel said Friend Or Foe will likely bypass the series’ second leg, the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 17, in favor of "bigger and better things."
"[Friend Or Foe] has a lot of tactical speed if you need it, but he’s also relaxed enough that you can settle him," said Kimmel.