I Am Fred cemented his place as one of the best horses currently in training with a fighting victory in the $1.5-million Distinctly Irish Trophy on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

The five-year-old bay gelding is of American breeding, Golden Lad out of Happy Hailey.

I Am Fred won the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance race for three-year-olds and up, at 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m), by three-quarters of a length over stablemates King Arthur and Miniature Man. The Jason DaCosta trainee finished the race in 1:55.4 (26.3 × 50.3 x 1:14.4 x 1:41.2).

“What can I say about him? He has done tremendously well this season, and I am so happy for the connections. He has had his issues; we just have to keep him happy,” DaCosta said.

I Am Fred, ridden by Reyan Lewis, was third going around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track, trailing She’s My Destiny (Jordan Barrett) and Sistren Treasure (Dane Dawkins). I Am Fred maintained a steady pace down the backstretch until Lewis sent his mount to pursue She’s My Destiny, who attempted to steal a march approaching the half-mile (800m) turn.

Hugging the inside rails and cutting the curve entering the drive, I Am Fred stormed to the head of the pack and held off King Arthur (Javaniel Patterson) at the wire to win his fourth-successive race this season.

Lewis was also pleased with the effort from I Am Fred.

“I have won quite a few races on him before and so I knew how he likes to run. I knew She’s My Destiny would be on the headlines, so I just sat at a comfortable pace and took it from the three furlongs.

“A space was on the rails and so I decided to go there, and when I asked him to run he gave me everything — and he won. He is a good horse who is still going and so all we have to do is pray that he keeps sound throughout the season,” Lewis said.