Photo: Adam Coglianese
Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Friend Or Foe, New York’s 2010 Champion Three-Year-Old Male, stalked and pounced in his four-year-old debut to win Belmont’s extremely competitive $60,000 Easy Goer overnight stakes on Sunday in style, overhauling Rail Trip in the final moments and stopping the clock after 1 1/16 miles in a lightning-fast 1:40.13.
On the face of it, the Easy Goer should have represented class relief for Friend Or Foe, whose four starts prior to his six-month freshening included Grade 1 and 2 events and the Empire Classic, but as his trainer John Kimmel joked before the race, “There should be a ‘G2’ next to that 60 thousand.” It was truly a packed, if select, field of four that remained after early scratch of Mission Impazible. Joining Friend Or Foe in the starting gate were: Tahitian Warrior (Maria’s Mon), four of whose eight career starts earned triple-digit Beyers; millionaire and Grade 1-winner Rail Trip (Jump Start); and multiple Grade 2 and 3-placed Convocation (Pulpit).
For the three weeks leading up to his return, Friend Or Foe sported an excellent work pattern: a five furlong bullet move on May 13 (:59 2/5), a three furlong bullet on May 20 (:36) and a six furlong breeze on May 27 in 1:14 2/5. Kimmel said last week, “He had a good freshening over the winter, he’s a big strong colt that has matured well. We’ll have to see if he’s race-rusty or not, but I’ve got him as fit as I can get him.” Favored to win at odds-on at post time, the chestnut son of Friends Lake was drawn at the rail, with Alex Solis getting the call for the third straight time. Composed in the paddock, the colt seemed on his toes and ready to go from the moment he set foot on the racetrack.
Friend Or Foe broke well and, despite being fresh, ran a disciplined race from the get-go. Rail Trip took the initiative, pursued by Tahitian Warrior, while Friend Or Foe rated kindly in third within one or two lengths of the lead through a first half mile in 46.01. When Tahitian Warrior began to back off his pursuit mid-turn, Friend Or Foe methodically whittled away at the lead for the first half of the stretch, and, as the wire neared, closed more rapidly. With a perfectly-timed acceleration under a drive, he sealed the thrilling stretch run by getting a head in front of Rail Trip at the finish line. After three-quarters run in 1:09.14 and a mile in 1:33.65, Friend Or Foe stopped the clock in an eye-catching 1:40.13. [VIDEO]
Kimmel said after the race, “It was a sharp effort by both horses. He kind of ground [Rail Trip] down and showed his fitness was up to where I wanted it to be. He sat off the pace and made a good run in racehorse time.” This promises to be exciting year for the Bromans’ chestnut colt. Kimmel expects the next start for Friend Or Foe will be in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on July 2. “Hopefully he cycles back in and will be ready for the Suburban,” said the trainer. “I would prefer that he didn’t have to run so hard to win, but I think he’ll move forward off the race if he gets enough time. It was a very good race. This is a really good horse, and I hope to have a really good campaign with him.”
Now four-for-four on the Belmont main track, Friend Or Foe’s third stakes win – and first stakes score against open rivals – improved his lifetime record to 5-0-0 from eight starts and increased his purse earnings to $295,634.
Unraced at two, Friend Or Foe followed three straight 2010 victories, capped by an authoritative win in a highly competitive renewal of the Mike Lee Stakes, with a fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and a troubled sixth in the Grade 1 Travers. He returned to the winner’s circle after demolishing older rivals in last year’s renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Empire Classic. On his way to a five-length win, he led every step of the way and broke the stakes record by more than a full second. His 109 Beyer Speed Figure for the race was the co-fastest of the year by a 3-year-old router (with emerging superstar Eskendereya). In his final start of 2010, the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, Friend Or Foe stalked the pace and raced wide, winding up in fifth, only three lengths behind the winner.
Friend Or Foe was sired by Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Friends Lake (A.P. Indy), also bred and campaigned by the Bromans, and currently standing in Saudi Arabia. His dam, Unbridled Star by Unbridled, is a stakes-placed winner, his second dam is Grade 2-placed, and third dam, Taisez Vous, is a multiple Grade 1 winner of $372,185. Unbridled Star, who was purchased by Chester Broman for $115,000 at the 2002 Keeneland November Sale, has produced three winners from five foals to start. She has an unnamed yearling full-brother to Friend Or Foe, and gave birth on March 23 to a filly by Sky Mesa.
