A homebred for Trinity Farm, the New York-bred Pure Prize gelding now has nine wins from 28 career outings. He now has over $893,000 in career earnings. The start was Red Knight’s first in the barn of trainer Michael Maker. Maker took over training duties from Hall of Famer Bill Mott after Red Knight’s winless 2021 campaign.

Bettors made Cellist, winner of the Grade 3 Louisville in May, the 3-2 post time favorite, while Red Knight, the field’s only other graded stakes winner on the flat, was 9-2.

Cellist, with Julien Leparoux up, swapped first and second back and forth with La Lune and Adam Beschizza through the opening 1 1/14 miles with never more than a half-length to separate them. Karamanos, meanwhile, had his mount in mid-flight in seventh and about four lengths away during the opening mile.

Karamanos was able to save ground around the first two of three turns. With more than a half-mile still to run, though, he tipped Red Knight out three and four wide to mount their attack. By the time they hit the head of the lane, Red Knight was on the far outside and part of a quartet of runners, including Another Mystery and the two early front runners, vying for the lead.

In the lane, while La Lune and Cellist faded from the scene, finishing ninth and tenth, respectively, Red Knight overpowered Another Mystery to win by 1 ½ lengths, with that runner holding second. Snap Decision was just a head behind Another Mystery in third, was another 1 ½ lengths farther back in fourth.

Red Knight paid $11.60 to win. The exacta, with Another Mystery off at 6-1, returned $32.20 on a one-dollar wager.

NOTES Nathan Detroit, off as the longest shot on the board, stumbled after clipping heels rounding the first turn, unseating jockey William Humphrey. Humphrey received stitches for an elbow laceration but did not need to go to the hospital, according to the track… The timer malfunctioned during the running of the Colonial Cup, so the time was not immediately available… The win was Karamanos’ second stakes win of the meet…