Similar to his second-level allowance race win in late August at Saratoga Race Course, Federal Judge opened a clear advantage early and drew off late to post a 5 1/2-length victory in the $314,275 Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
On a track where speed fared well throughout the day, Federal Judge broke in good order from the rail under Flavien Prat and looked well within himself through a quarter-mile in :21.62. He put away a bit of a challenge from Comedy Town after a half-mile in :43.97 then drew off to the easy victory.
With the effort, the speedy 4-year-old Army Mule gelding campaigned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm secured the first graded stakes win of his career. The consistent Federal Judge nailed down his fourth win in six career starts and going in seemed to be a good fit for the track Friday. In the four main track races before the Phoenix, two winners led at every point of call and the other two rallied from just off the pace in second.
"It was a big win; we're proud of the horse, proud of the effort," trainer Brad Cox said. "Obviously just based off of what we've seen from the earlier races, speed's good, rail's good, so we'll see. We walked in the paddock and felt it could definitely benefit him, and it seemed to have but we're proud of the effort."
The Phoenix is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race that awards a fees-paid start in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar. While it would be just his third start in a graded stakes, Cox said they'll consider that option. In his only other graded stakes start, Federal Judge finished fourth in last year's Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.
"It's a thought," Cox said. "We'll talk it over with the WinStar team and the Siena Farm team and come up with a game plan fairly quick. It's definitely something we'll talk about over the next few days."
Elliott Walden on Federal Judge's Phoenix Stakes Win
Sent off as the second choice at 8-5, Federal Judge completed the six-furlong test in 1:08.20 on a fast track. He was followed home by even-money favorite Nakatomi in second and Comedy Town, who entered off back-to-back stakes wins at Gulfstream Park, in third.
Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay's Nakatomi entered off a victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) July 27 at Saratoga. As Nakatomi typically comes from off the pace, trainer Wesley Ward thought the 5-year-old son of Firing Line ran well to surge past four horses to claim second.
"Hopefully that sets us up well for the Breeders' Cup (Sprint)," said Ward.
Bred in Florida by Caperlane Farm, Federal Judge is the first starter for the winning Congaree mare Congarette. Maverick Racing went to $200,000 to purchase Federal Judge from the Gainesway consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale.
Federal Judge is the first graded stakes winner this year for Army Mule, who stood the season for $25,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa near Paris, Ky.
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