BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Pressured throughout the first half mile by Neoequos, Rated by Merit shook off that rival with ease to keep his undefeated record intact with a nearly four-length score in the $200,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
The highly regarded Rated by Merit defeated five other 2-year-old colts and geldings by accredited Florida stallions and covered seven furlongs in 1:22.55, just .09 of a second off the stakes record of 1:22.46 set by Soutache in the 2017 running of the Affirmed.
Ridden from post two by Jesus Rios, Rated by Merit went the first quarter mile in :22.74 while racing to the inside of Neoequos with Big Paradise, Zizka and Classic of Course giving chase together in third from a length back. Neoequos and jockey Drayden Van Dyke kept up around the far turn before Rated by Merit sprinted clear down the stretch.
Neoequos finished second, seven-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Classic of Course in third. Big Paradise, Lou and Zizka completed the order of finish.
Sent to the post with 1-5 odds, Rated by Merit paid $2.40 to win.
“The race went as we expected. I thought we would be on the lead and [Neoequos] would be pressing us,” Rios said. “I am very impressed with the horse. I trust him a lot. When I asked the horse to run, I know he is going to respond.”
In contrast to Rios and his confidence, Yates said he had some concerns until Rated by Merit drew off in the stretch.
“When I saw [Rios] cue him a little bit on the turn to check him out, he had horse, and I felt a lot better,” Yates said. “He made him work hard. He needs to work hard to move forward.”
Rated by Merit has been a star from the start after breaking his maiden by nearly 10 lengths at Gulfstream on July 13, producing a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was at the time tops among North American 2-year-olds in 2024. He improved on that performance in his second race, winning the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager by six-and-a-quarter lengths while covering six furlongs in a stakes record time of 1:09.45. That equated to a 93 Beyer number that currently ranks fourth among juveniles this year.
Rated by Merit is owned and was bred in Florida by Vincent and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable and is trained by Michael “Bo” Yates. The son of Battalion Runner has now earned $220,000 in his three races.
“We’re extremely excited. He’s such a special horse,” St. Elias Executive Director of Racehorse Development Monique Delk said. “He’s a homebred and kind of a passion project with the sire [Battalion Runner], who was also a very good horse for Mr. and Mrs. Viola. We’re just thrilled.
“He ran his race and he’s the utmost professional, very classy. He just did everything you could ask for. [We are] looking forward to [him racing at longer distances]. I think he shows in his training in the morning that he’s ready. I don’t think that it’ll be an issue, and we’re excited for that.”
After his first two starts, Rated by Merit was considered for other stakes around the country before his connections decided to keep him in the Florida Sire Stakes for the Affirmed.
“Really Bo [Michael Yates] and Monique really sort of made that decision [to run here] for Teresa and I,” Vincent Viola said. “They make it very easy. I think this is the right path for him, to get him enough time to show us where he wants to wind up.
“I just want to thank Bo. He’s done a phenomenal job with the horse. He’s really balanced and it looks like he could be something, so it’s exciting.”
Rated by Merit is the only black-type performer for the winning Speightstown mare Banner Waving, who has two winners from three starters. She was purchased by St. Elias Stable for $19,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
“We’re tickled to death. He’s very talented,” Yates said. “He just seems to take everything in stride. Today, he had his ears up, pricking his ears back and forth. He knew it was race day.”
Yates said the next likely start for Rated by Merit could come in the $300,000 In Reality at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. The final leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes will be run at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 30.
“I think the In Reality is the next step. It’s two turns and we’ll get ready for the winter meet,” Yates said.
Rated by Merit is trying to become the eleventh colt or gelding to sweep the Florida Sire Stakes. He would join Smile (1984), Naked Greed (1991), Seacliff (1995), Express Tour (2000), Sir Oscar (2003), Big Drama (2008), Jackson Bend (2009), Fort Loudon (2011), Three Rules (2016) and Awesome Strong (2022). Four fillies and swept the female division including Nancy’s Glitter (1997), Aclassysassylassy (2004), Awesome Feather (2010) and Scandalous Act (2013).
