Divine Oath defeats elders in McKnight

Divine Oath settled several lengths off Rapscallion's tepid pace of :25 2/5,

:51 and 1:17 2/5, and crept closer at the mile mark in 1:44 1/5. Advancing into

contention around the final turn, he launched the decisive move at the head of

the lane to hold sway in a final time of 2:34 1/5 on the good turf.

Brazilian champion Fixador, always in good stalking position, kicked on well,

and the 47-1 longshot reduced the winner's margin to a half-length at the wire.

It was a mightily encouraging second U.S. start for the 2013 Cidade Jardim

Triple Crown hero, who added Lasix after a forgettable debut for Eduardo

Caramori.

Manchurian High closed from near the rear for third. Next came Unitarian;

Margano; St. Albans Boy; 2-1 favorite Slumber, who never factored in his

premiere for Chad Brown; Royal Blessing; North Slope; Dashing David; Avie's

Quality; Rapscallion; and the tailed-off Midnight Aria. Calvados and

Greengrassofyoming were scratched, along with also-eligible Developer.

Bred by Sanford R. Robertson in Kentucky, Divine Oath brought $200,000 as a

yearling at Keeneland September. He has now bankrolled $416,890 from his 9-5-1-1

record.

Divine Oath hails from an active family that includes recent Delta Downs

Jackpot hero Ocho Ocho Ocho and the aforementioned Mr Speaker, winner of the

Belmont Derby Invitational. Out of the winning Forestry mare Rejoicing, Divine

Oath counts as his third dam unbeaten Hall of Famer and Broodmare of the Year

Personal Ensign.

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