Highway Robber battled a stubborn Bold Act throughout the final furlong and came out on top in a head-bobbing photo finish to win the G3 Sycamore Stakes by a nose at Keeneland on Friday, 11 October.
The victory was the first Graded Stakes win for the four-year-old Hard Spun gelding. His resume also boasts a recent win in the Listed KY Downs Preview Turf Cup in September. Highway Robber also set a new Stakes and course record with the victory, covering the 12-furlong turf contest in 2:26.08.
A full field of 11 went to the post in the Sycamore, and at the start it was Cathkin Peak that went right to the lead out of the gate under Frankie Dettori. That pair went about setting a brisk pace for the turf marathon, as Tyler Gaffalione was content to settle well off the leaders near the rear of the field through the early stages.
Cathkin Peak continued to lead the way into the far turn, but the rest of the field was closing in rapidly, as both Highway Robber and Bold Act were looming dangerously while racing wide. Cathkin Peak gave way to Dataman a furlong from the wire, but Bold Act quickly overtook that rival to take the lead. Highway Robber was under a full head of steam to his outside and came with a furious rally as the pair battled through the stretch and to the wire, with Highway Robber coming out on top in a photo finish.
Bred in Kentucky by Foxpointe Thoroughbreds, Highway Robber was purchased by Jim and Susan Hill out of the 2022 OBS April Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. The chestnut gelding is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare, Yabba, and hails from the family of Stakes winners See The Wind and Fly Smartly.
In addition to Highway Robber, Hard Spun is also the sire of Sparkle Blue, winner of both the G3 Hillsborough Stakes and Big Dreyfus Stakes in 2024; Necker Island, winner of the Iowa Sprint Stakes; Good Lord Lorrie (Woodhaven Stakes); Informed Patriot, Kupuna, Give It a Whirl and Drum Roll Please.
