Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr.'s Friar's Road has shown a liking for the Southern California turf, capping 2021 off with three graded stakes placings. The 5-year-old son of Quality Road had his breakthrough moment Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park, flying down the stretch under Flavien Prat to a clear victory in the $225,000 San Marcos Stakes (G2T).
"We think he's been quite a horse," William Warren Jr. said. "He's fun to watch with that real kick he has in the stretch. We brought two other couples from Tulsa to come watch and it's a great pleasure to see such a masterful ride from Flavien Prat, he had him in position the whole way."
Friar's Road bested several familiar rivals in the San Marcos. In October he earned his first graded placing when third in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2T), beat two noses by United and comebacking Acclimate. The next month he was third in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) to Say the Word, also in the San Marcos, and Acclimate. He ended 2021 second a nose behind fellow San Marcos runner Bob and Jackie in the San Gabriel Stakes (G3T).
In Sunday's 1 1/4-mile turf affair, Prat settled Friar's Road in third several lengths off the pace of Acclimate and Bob and Jackie. Acclimate showed the way with fractions of :22.69, :46.60, and 1:11.09 through three-quarters of a mile, with Bob and Jackie pressing him to his outside. Bob and Jackie got his head in front to post a mile in 1:34.98, at which point Friar's Road still had three lengths to make up. But once set down for the drive, Friar's Road sped past the frontrunners and on to a 4 1/4-length win.
The final time was 1:58.67 on firm turf. Michael McCarthy-trained Friar's Road, the even-money favorite, returned $4.20 on a $2 win bet.
"I had been on him a few times in the morning and I was really happy with the way he was training," Prat said. "He was doing well coming into this race and he broke well and got me into the race. There was a strong pace today and he was there for me when it was time to make a move. The pace was key today. He's a big horse with a long stride and you don't want to take too much hold of him."
Bob and Jackie held on for second by a head over Say the Word. Lincoln Hawk and Acclimate completed the order of finish. Dicey Mo Chara was scratched.
Friar's Road's record now stands at 3-4-2 from 13 starts and his earnings increased to $346,500.
"It was fantastic, a great way to end the weekend," McCarthy said.
Friar's Road was bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low. He is out of the Giant's Causeway mare My Sugar Bear, whose four foals to race are all winners and include stakes-placed Vevina (More Than Ready). My Sugar Bear also has a 2-year-old Malibu Moon colt and was bred to More Than Ready for 2022.
Mike Ryan, agent, purchased Friar's Road for $500,000 out of Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
