Rated by Merit has emerged as one of the fastest 2-year-olds in North America based on Beyer Speed Figures and next-race options for the Gulfstream Park-based runner include upcoming preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The championship race is Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Rated by Merit has won the first two starts of his career by a combined margin of 16 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92 in his debut July 13 and came back and earned a 93 last Saturday, when he captured the $100,000 Dr. Fager division of the Florida Sire Stakes.
The Beyers rank second and third among all 2-year-old males, behind the 96 that Ferocious put up Aug. 3 at Saratoga. Rated by Merit has raced exclusively at six furlongs, and covered the distance in a blazing 1:09.45 in the Dr. Fager.
:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.
“It was a pretty impressive race,” trainer Michael Yates said. “I would say he took a step forward, to say the least. He pressed a hot pace and was able to keep on, so I thought that was pretty impressive.”
Yates trains Rated by Merit for his breeder, St. Elias Stables. He said formal discussions will begin this weekend on the path to be taken with the son of Battalion Runner.
“I really don’t have an exact spot where we’re going to run next going forward,” Yates said Friday. “We’ve got a lot of options at this point and we’re going to meet this weekend and discuss all the options.
“There’s several 2-year-old races that are graded races – you’ve got the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, you’ve got the Champagne in New York, and you’ve got the American Pharoah in California. And then you have the Stallion Stakes here. We haven’t ruled that out, either. We’re going to have to watch how he moves forward out of his race and pick a spot.”
The $500,000 Champagne will be run at a mile at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct. The $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity and $300,000 American Pharoah are both 1 1/16-mile races. The three stakes are all Grade 1 races and each of them will be held Oct. 5 as Win and You’re In qualifiers for the BC Juvenile, also run at 1 1/16 miles.
The next race in the Florida Sire Stakes series is the $200,000 Affirmed over seven furlongs Oct. 19 at Gulfstream. The series also includes the $300,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 30.
Yates said there are reasons he believes Rated by Merit is a horse who will handle added distance going forward.
“I see a horse that has a lot of natural talent at this point, and his pedigree suggests that he would go two turns,” Yates said. “And his demeanor, and the way he trains, makes me feel like he would do that as well.
“Two turns, the pace will slow down just a touch from what he’s run, and I think that gives him an opportunity to excel.”
Yates said it would be a while before firm plans are set for Rated by Merit.
“He ultimately will make the decision,” he said.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.