Jim and Susan Hill’s Grand Arch closed with authority to capture Sunday’s $202,000 Grade 2 King Edward Stakes, at Woodbine.
Grand Arch, a five-year-old bay son of Arch-Bacinella, arrived at the one-mile turf stake off a narrow half-length defeat when third in a Churchill Downs turf allowance on May 9.
Trained by Brian Lynch and patiently handled by David Moran in the King Edward, Grand Arch settled off the early pace of Excaper and Are You Kidding Me before making a powerful stretch run to notch a half-length win.
Excaper, fresh of a win in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, set splits of :23.47 and :45.78 under pressure from Are You Kidding Me before opening up a three-length lead at the top of the lane under Eurico Rosa da Silva.
Utley, winner of the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico last time out, took first run at Excaper down the lane for rider Edgar Prado but was outkicked by a driving Grand Arch who stopped the clock in 1:32.49 for his first graded win.
Moran was pleased with the effort from his charge.
“I just waited until the last second. Brian told me to get him settled and ride him like he was the best horse in the race and he won like he was the best horse in the race,” said Moran.
Lynch was full of praise for the well-timed ride from Moran.
“He’s been working a lot of horses for us this year and his timing and patience are fantastic. He gave that horse a great ride today,” said Lynch.
Grand Arch banked $120,000 in victory while improving his career record to 4-4-6 from 14 starts.
He returned $25.20, $8.80 and $3.90, pairing with Excaper ($3.60, $2.60) for an $86.60 (2-3) exactor. A 2-3-7 (Utley, $3.20 to show) triactor was worth $309.10. River Seven completed a $1 Superfecta (2-3-7-1) worth $719.55.
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