Susan and Jim Hill’s Highway Robber stuck his nose in front of Godolphin’s defending champion Bold Act (IRE) right at the finish line to win the 30th running of the $300,000 Sycamore (G3) for 3-year-olds and up.

Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Highway Robber completed the 1½ miles over a turf course labeled as firm in a course-record time of 2:26.08. The victory, which made Highway Robber a millionaire, was the fourth of the afternoon for Gaffalione.

Cathkin Peak (IRE) raced on an isolated lead and reeled off fractions of :23.16, :46.51, 1:11.02 and 1:36.66 as Highway Robber ran near the back of the pack.

Cathkin Peak carried his advantage into the far turn with Dataman and Sugoi closing in along with Bold Act, who had raced in the clear all the way.

At the top of the stretch, Bold Act was in high gear and hit the front at the three-sixteenths pole. Behind him, coming five-wide, was Highway Robber who drew on even terms at the eighth pole setting up the duel to the wire.

Highway Robber is a 4-year-old gelded Kentucky-bred son of Hard Spun out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Yabba. The victory, Highway Robber’s first graded stakes tally, was worth $172,050 and increased Highway Robber’s earnings to $1,001,063 with a record of 11-5-2-1.

Sent off as the favorite in the field of 11, Highway Robber returned $7.18, $3.88 and $3.14. Bold Act, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $4.28 and $3.66 and finished 4¼ lengths in front of Utah Beach, who paid $5.82 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Dataman, who was followed in order by Sugoi, Tawny Port, Big Blue Line, Ohana Honor, Cathkin Peak, Always Above and Verstappen.

***************************

Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET that is highlighted by the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies going 1⅛ miles. The QEII will go as the afternoon’s eighth race with a 4:44 p.m. post time.