By J.N. Campbell
9th-Gulfstream, $77,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-9, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.59, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
PRAETOR (c, 3, Into Mischief–Curlin's Approval {MGSW, $654,725}, by Curlin) ran a well-beaten third on debut in the mud at the Spa last August, but he was able to graduate by a neck over the highly-regarded GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) at the Big A Sept. 27. Given time after a minor injury, the bay returned to work at Chad Brown's Payson base in late January.
Slammed at the windows for his 3-year-old unveiling to the tune of 40 cents on the dollar and with first-time Lasix here, Praetor dueled with Bear Claw Necklace (Lord Nelson) out of the chute before assuming a tracking spot to the outside of leader up the backstretch. The favorite snagged the top spot around the far turn and by the top of the lane the chariot was on fire. With Tyler Gaffalione in the irons as he was with the colt's dam, Praetor ran up the score by 7 1/2 lengths to the good over Kinetic Control (Not This Time).
“He showed a lot of class as a 2-year-old, and I know Chad [Brown] wanted to continue to race him, but he had a little issue and stopped on him,” said co-owner Phil Hatfield, who operates CHP Racing with his wife Christine. “He got him back going and hopefully he's got enough time to make it to the first weekend in May. It's going to be tight. He beat Sovereignty last year, so it's going to be fun. It'll be interesting to see where he goes. It'll be up to Chad.”
Praetor has an older full-sister named Charlottesapproval who was purchased by Live Oak Plantation for $1 million during the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and sent to trainer Mark Casse. Curlin's Approval–herself based at Gulfstream from 2016-2018 with owner/trainer Happy Alter who bred Praetor with Bridlewood Farm–foaled the winner a full-brother last year. She was sent to Justify for this season. Sales History: $725,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $107,700. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-William H. Lawrence, CHP Racing and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck); B-Bridlewood Farm & Alter's Racing Stables, Inc. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
👀 #4 PRAETOR ($2.80) shows off winning Race 9 at @GulfstreamPark with @Tyler_Gaff in the saddle for trainer Chad Brown. This 3yo colt by @SpendthriftFarm's Into Mischief is owned by William Lawrence, CHP Racing and @Gainesway Stable. pic.twitter.com/4lCXoB9nBZ
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 9, 2025
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