by Myra Lewyn

True to Tradition reeled in pacesetter Starticus in the long stretch at Woodbine and held back the closing surge of longshot runner-up Rouse the Cat to prevail by the slimmest of margins in the $464,941 Nearctic Stakes (Can-G2) on Saturday.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche drove the six-year-old Rahy gelding across the finish line to win by a nose while covering six furlongs in 1:09.11 on firm turf.

The Nearctic victory at odds of 8.20-to-1 was True to Tradition’s first in a graded stakes and secured a starting spot in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park as part the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

True to Tradition entered off a four-length romp over Nearctic foe Heros Reward at Philadelphia Park on September 1 in the Turf Monster Handicap, in which he took control under Carmouche after the opening quarter and powered clear for his first stakes win.

The Nearctic unfolded a bit differently. Carmouche allowed True to Tradition to stalk from second, never more than a length back, as Starticus laid down a lively tempo into the stretch. Carmouche waited until just the right time in midstretch to give the bay gelding his cue and he willingly responded.

True to Tradition easily dispatched Starticus and dug in when engaged by 52.55-to-1 longshot Rouse the Cat, who rallied from fourth in early stretch.

“I just know that you have to sit a little longer with the long stretch here,” Carmouche said. “[Trainer] Scott Lake just told me to ride him the way he wanted to go, and I just broke and let him sit nice and comfortable. When I asked him, he responded.”

True to Tradition finished second in three stakes in the Mid-Atlantic region, including a runner-up finish to Heros Reward in the Old Mutual Turf Sprint Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, before his breakthrough stakes win in the Turf Monster.

Heros Reward raced in third throughout the Nearctic but never threatened, finishing a neck behind third-place finisher Starticus. Hellvelyn, the 1.90-to-1 favorite, finished sixth.

True to Tradition was claimed by Lake for $35,000 last year at Saratoga for owners Ben Mondello and Adam Russo in the name of Aces Full Racing Stable. He has won three of eight starts this season and improved his overall record to ten wins in 23 starts with earnings of $670,651.

Bred in Kentucky by previous owner Live Oak Stud, True to Tradition is out of the winning Fortunate Prospect mare Successful Dancer, who produced multiple graded stakes winner and sire Successful Appeal, by Valid Appeal.

For the Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor