Pryor was all business as he drew off to an impressive 5 3/4-length maiden special weight win on Presidents’ Day at Oaklawn Park.
The 3-year-old Paynter colt is the seventh winner this year for his sire, whose hot start has him ranked third on the North American Second-Crop Sire list.
Pryor was off just a beat slow in Monday’s one-mile contest, but quickly recovered and had the lead entering the first turn. Lionite, the heavy favorite, gave chase the entire way, but Pryor was much the best as he entered the stretch full of run and was eased up under the wire by Drayden Van Dyke.
The winner is out of the top-class mare Awesome Humor, who counted the Spinaway S. (G1) among her four graded stakes victories. Pryor was bred by WinStar Farm and is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, who purchased the colt for $200,000 out of the 2017 OBS March 2-year-old sale.
