When Gainesway debuted Karakontie in 2017, standing for $15,000, it was a fascinating and bold move. Bred in Japan, the young stud had an impeccable race record of Grade/Group 1 wins in France and North America, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile-G1, and earnings of just under two million dollars.

His pedigree, similarly, was stellar, by Bernstein, out of a granddaughter of the great Miesque, who herself won the Breeders’ Cup Mile-G1 twice, and had given birth to a wealth of talent including the great sire Kingmambo. Are you waiting for the huge “but” that’s coming? Here it is: but all Karakontie’s wins were on turf. A turf giant, standing in the land of the free and home of the dirt?

Gainesway has been rewarded for their courage, it would seem, as Karakontie had his first winner on Saturday, May 25, in a maiden special weight at Belmont, on the turf. Wesley Ward (who else?) put the two-year-old Karakontie filly Karak in against the boys, and she was victorious, taking the five furlong test easily, by three lengths, against her favored stablemate. Breeze Easy LLC bought Karak at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale in March for $365,000, after she breezed in 9.4 seconds, so the talent was clearly there. And getting her to Ward, who now has her aimed for Royal Ascot, was genius.

Karak’s pedigree also fascinates. Her broodmare sire, Mujadil, is by Storm Bird, out of a Secretariat mare, making him the mirror image of Bernstein’s renowned dad, Storm Cat. There is also a dose of Sir Gaylord, the sire of her third dam, making Karak triple-bred Somethingroyal, adding to the mare royalty provided by Miesque and her endlessly black-typed family. Karak sold for $22,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November 2017, giving J.C. Corp a huge pinhooking score.

But really, all the kudos go to Gainesway, the Beck family, and stallion manager Michael Hernon, for having the bravery and the foresight to stand this anomalous horse at their famed Lexington farm. With all of the injuries and fatalities to horses on dirt this year, Karakontie is a breath of fresh air.

-- Roberta Smoodin