Sum of the Parts turned in a perfect gate to wire finish in the Phoenix Stakes
Owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawr, Sum of the Parts, will be running in high graded company next month, when he earned an automatic berth in the Grade 1 XpressBet Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park on 3 November, 2012, after he showed his worth in his first graded stakes race, the Grade 3 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.
Trained by Thomas M. Amoss, Sum of the Parts has been successful keeping a good record this year, as he has gone on to win three out of four starts, and the only time he misfired was in the Groovy Stakes at Belmont Park over turf, where he finished as a runner-up to, Spring to the Sky.
The Kentucky bred son of Speightstown, took part in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint last year, and finished 6th to Bob Baffert trained, Secret Circle, who covered the 6 furlong distance in 1 minute and 10.52 seconds at Churchill Downs.
In the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes, the plan was to take Sum of the Parts to the lead, but breaking from post 6 meant the colt had to put in some extra yards to execute the plan laid out by trainer Tom Amoss.
"He is a very fast horse and there were other fast horses in the field," Amoss said. "But the other thing he has going for him is that he is quick out of the gate. I was pleased we made the lead as easy as we did and the rest worked out."
Under jockey Julien Leparoux, Sum of the Parts broke swiftly, and turned in the opening quarter mile in 22.75 seconds, but the brisk pace faded as the race went on and he carved half mile in 46.04 seconds, and eventually went on to complete the total distance of 6 furlongs in 1 minute and 9.88 seconds.
"The plan was always to be on the lead," Leparoux said. "There were two other speed horses on the inside, but we didn’t want to go crazy. At the quarter pole, I had a lot of horse and he finished strong."
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