KARAKONTIE’S regally-bred Bears Watching impressed at Gulfstream Park on Saturday with an 7 3/4 length Maiden Special Weight victory in his second start.
A half-brother to dual Grade 1 winner Code Of Honor and trained by that horse’s trainer Shug McGaughey, Bears Watching more than lived up to his name in the seven furlong dirt race against 10 others. Racing in the Lane’s End Farm silks, the William S. Farish homebred raced in third just a length behind the pair of leaders.
As they raced around the far turn, the colt went wide to challenge the leaders and enter the stretch a length ahead.
There was no catching the KARAKONTIE son as jockey Jose Ortiz gave just a few pumps of his arms in midstretch. Galloping down the stretch 7 3/4 lengths in front, Ortiz gave his mount a well deserved pat as they crossed the line.
In addition to Code Of Honor, Bears Watching is also a half-brother to Grade 2-placed Big League and the dam of stakes-placed Successful Zip. The horses are out of Grade 3 winner Reunited, who herself is one of three stakes winners out of the multiple stakes winner Tivli.
He is the latest dirt star for KARAKONTIE, who counts Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) winner Princess Grace and Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner Sole Volante among his dirt winners. Proving to be a stallion who sires top horses on both surfaces, KARAKONTIE’s turf stakes winners include Horris Hill (G3) winner Kenzai Warrior and multiple stakes winner Karak.