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Parading grand marshals the Ben Ali

Parading sailed to victory in the Ben Ali (EquiSport Photos) Phipps Stable's homebred PARADING (Pulpit) found his calling Sunday over the Keeneland Polytrack. Debuting on a synthetic surface for the first time, the Shug McGaughey trainee assumed control by the half-mile and drew off with complete authority down the lane to take the $150,000 Ben Ali S. (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths under Kent Desormeaux. The 5-1 third choice in a field of seven, Parading returned $12.40, $7 and $4.40 while keying the $328.20 exacta, $1,177.40 trifecta and $4,937.20 superfecta (7-4-5-3). The compact field was led by Adriano (A.P. Indy) by a half-length through a quarter-mile in :23 4/5, but from that point on it was all Parading. Hung wide through the first turn, Parading made a wide bid for the lead down the backside. Up by a length through a :47 2/5 half-mile, Parading's lead diminished to a half-length through six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 as he was challenged by Dominican (El Corredor). Parading quickly dispensed with that rival turning for home and the question in the final furlong was not whether he would win but by how much. Parading covered nine furlongs in a quick 1:47 4/5.

Your Round (Distorted Humor), the 43-1 outsider in the field, prevailed by a half-length for second and gave back $26 and $7.20. Monba (Maria's Mon), the 7-5 favorite returned $2.60 after finishing a head in front of Dominican. Sterwins (Runaway Groom), Grasshopper (Dixie Union) and Adriano completed the order of finish.

Seventh in his stakes debut a year ago when taking on the likes of Kip Deville (Kipling) and Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1), Parading rebounded to take the Volponi S. at Belmont Park in his next start. The chestnut was out of action for nearly 11 months after that score, re-emerging in a turf allowance at Keeneland on April 4 where he missed by a nose as the favorite. The regally-bred six-year-old is now in possession of a 16-6-4-2 career mark with earnings of $315,046.

Parading is just the latest graded stakes winner from one of the most successful female families cultivated during the past three decades. His fourth dam, Broodmare of the Year Grecian Banner (Hoist the Flag), produced multiple Grade 1 winner Personal Flag (Private Account) and, more importantly, his full sister Personal Ensign, the undefeated Hall of Fame champion who was also honored as Broodmare of the Year. Personal Ensign produced Grade 1-winning full brothers Miner's Mark and Traditionally, both by Mr. Prospector; multiple Grade 1-winning and classic-placed filly My Flag (Easy Goer); and multiple Grade 1-placed sire Our Emblem (Mr. Prospector). My Flag produced Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), the champion two-year-old filly of 2002, as well as her Grade 3-placed full sister On Parade, the dam of Parading. On Parade is also the dam of the unraced juvenile filly Protesting (A.P. Indy), a three-quarter sister to Parading, and a 2009 filly by Mr. Greeley.

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