RARELY used apprentice Jawani Forbes scored a rare winner when he guided home the Donovan Russell-trained
Pharoah It Is to a 13-1 upset win in the opening event — the Steven Smith (champion groom for 2023), on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Pharoah It Is, travelling six furlongs in the three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) event that included native-bred six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of four) and imported six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three), made one move to win by a length and a quarter.

Forbes quickly hustled Pharoah It Is to the front when the starting barriers opened, and the seven-year-old bay gelding easily held the lead ahead of Big Argument (Paul Francis), Drone Strike (Dane Dawkins), and Three Card Guy (Shamaree Muir).

Pharoah It Is looked assured on the front end while navigating the half-mile corner, bringing the field into the lane at a merry clip.
Pharoah It Is was not to be caught as Forbes kept urging to score an easy win.

Drone Strike finished second while Big Argument was third. The final time for the race was 1:17.1 (24.1 x 48.3).