Rated By Merit Takes the Big Apple by Storm, Remains Perfect in Discovery

[Wandering Eyes]

He hasn't been seen since November, but unbeaten Rated by Merit (Battalion Runner) returned to the winner's enclosure like he never left it in the first place in the Discovery Stakes.

A sensation who garnered national attention last season in Florida while in the shedrow of Michael Yates, he was unveiled July 13 at Gulfstream to an eye-catching 9 3/4-length tour-de-force against open maidens–soundly beating MSP Forged Steel (Vekoma)–and just kept going from there. He rolled right through the Florida sire stakes circuit with open margins in the Dr. Fager Stakes Sept. 7–where he soundly defeated SW & GISP Neoequos (Neolithic) for the first time–and repeated that effort Oct. 19 in the Affirmed Stakes over that rival. Behind that pair in both starts was SW Classic of Course (Awesome of Course) and they'd left a couple eventual black type winners in their wake to boot.

Rated by Merit was last seen Nov. 30 as he rolled home to a six-length victory in the In Reality Stakes over Classic of Course, and claimed the 'Triple Crown of the Florida Sire Stakes'. Unfortunately, bone bruising forced him to the sidelines, ending any chances of a potential tilt at the Kentucky Derby. He moved to the barn of Chad Brown at Saratoga before his first work in August, and built up a healthy worktab before this jump.

Appropriately, the public bet him like he couldn't lose, and as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Rated by Merit did not disappoint. As was tradition, the grey went right to the front to control the tempo through :22.96 and a half in :45.63 while taking pressure from his outside. Getting away from that early challenger around the turn after six panels in 1:09.05, Rated by Merit's margin had grown to a clear advantage with Wise Up (Lookin At Lucky) chasing in second, but a long way in front of third. Despite drifting out inside the furlong marker, the Brown-trainee held his pursuer to 1 1/4 lengths on the wire. Light Forever (Frosted) was over 13 lengths behind them to wrap the trifecta. The final time was 1:33.45 for the one-turn mile.

“[Rated by Merit is] really fast and he's got natural speed,” said Manny Franco. “I just was trying to sit chilly on him. I got the pressure outside, but he don't really bother me because I was focused on my horse, it was me and him. I get him to relax. He was going fast, but the right way. He was pretty comfortable and then in the stretch, I've got horse under me, so I'm happy.”

Out of Banner Waving (Speightstown), Rated by Merit is her last foal to the races thus far, but stands tall as the most accomplished of the three winning offspring she's produced. Hailing from the female line of GISW Runup the Colors, the mare is out of a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Revolutionary (War Pass). Banner Waving went to Liam's Map for 2026. This is the immediate female family of Mineshaft (A.P. Indy) and his full-siblings MGISW Tomisue's Delight and MSW & GSP Rock Slide. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

 

Still undefeated! RATED BY MERIT stays perfect as he wins his fifth race in a row in the Discovery Stakes under @jockeyfranco for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/7K65haw4WS

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 4, 2025

 

DISCOVERY S., $121,250, Belmont The Big A, 10-4, (C), 3yo, 1m, 1:33.45, ft.
1–RATED BY MERIT, 120, c, 3, by Battalion Runner
           1st Dam: Banner Waving, by Speightstown
           2nd Dam: Freedom Flag, by Dixie Union
           3rd Dam: Runup the Colors, by A.P. Indy
O/B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (FL); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Manuel Franco. $68,750. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $468,750.
2–Wise Up, 120, r, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Five Diamonds, by Flatter. ($65,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $120,000 2yo '24 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Wise Racing LLC; B-Arrowwood Farm (PA); T-Chad C. Brown. $25,000.
3–Light Forever, 120, c, 3, Frosted–Tiz Ladys Legs, by Tiznow. ($30,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Silver Trail Stables LLC; B-Stepaside Farm LLC (KY); T-Guadalupe Preciado. $15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 13 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 0.29, 4.90, 33.15.
Also Ran: Uncaged, Dreambuilder.

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