Race Recaps Nadal proves game in San Vicente February 9, 2020 Credit: Ernie Belmonte Race Recaps Nadal proves game in San Vicente February 9, 2020 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ARCADIA, CA – George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen’s Nadal fought gamely along the inside to stave off a stubborn foe and win Sunday’s $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. ( Content Continues Below Ad ) Breaking from post 4 under Joel Rosario as the 1/5 heavy favorite, Nadal attempted to take command but was sandwiched between Ginobili to his outside and Party Town on the rail. After running an opening 1/4-mile in :21.81, Party Town gave way, but Ginobili ratcheted up the pressure and took a slim lead heading into the far turn. The rest of the field fell back and couldn’t keep up with the pacesetters, who completed the 1/2-mile in :44.09 while distancing themselves in the stretch run. Ginobili fought hard along his outside, but Nadal began inching away at the 1/8 pole. Kept to a drive through to the wire, the Bob Baffert trainee crossed 3/4 of a length ahead in a final time of 1:22.59 for the 7-furlong sprint over the fast main track. Credit: Ernie Belmonte “He broke sharp and he handled the pressure from the outside,” Rosario said. “I was never worried about it. My horse was moving very well and I was confident because I could feel I had a lot of horse under me. He was very impressive. He ran very fast today and he runs like he’ll like two turns, but you never know until they do it.” Ginobili was 1 1/4 lengths past Fast Enough, who headed last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion Storm the Court for third. Ra’ad was 15 lengths back in fifth, while Party Town was eased across the wire to complete the order of finish. Nadal’s win was his second in as many tries, having broken his maiden locally on January 19 while going 6 1/2 furlongs. The 3-year-old son of Blame has now earned $153,000 and will likely target the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 14. “Today, I told Joel, don’t get cute, just go,” Baffert said. “We can rate him some other day. They took it to him, but if we’re gonna get beat, get beat. I trained him light for this, so this is my serious work. I thought he was gonna get beat. He got to gut it out today, so he’s got a good foundation now. This should set him up pretty good and I think we’ll go to the Rebel.” Nadal returned $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place, and $2.10 to show. Ginobili brought back $6 to place and $4 to show, while Fast Enough paid $3.60 to show.
NBA & NHL Playoff Previews & Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 188 Aaron and Papa Dude discuss OJ Simpson, UConn’s national championship… Read More
2024 Kentucky Derby Top 10 & Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 661 The Racing Dudes reveal their Top 10 Kentucky Derby prospects… Read More
Keeneland Pick 5 [Lexington Stakes Day] | The Magic Mike Show 541 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
Kentucky Derby Prep Results [Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, & Wood Memorial] | The Magic Mike Show 540 The Magic Mike Show guys discuss last week’s Kentucky Derby… Read More
Kentucky Derby Prep Picks: Blue Grass, Wood Memorial, & Santa Anita Derby | Blinkers Off 660 The Racing Dudes preview the final three major 2024 Kentucky… Read More
Triple Crown 2024 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Attention Turns To Kentucky Derby Each week, get the standings, power rankings, and recent transactions for… Read More
Finding Singles | Racing Dudes Rockets Hits & Heartbreaks 52 Aaron reviews the recent Racing Dudes Rockets to explain how… Read More
Kentucky Derby 2024 Latest News & Top Contenders | Encino Enters Top 10 After Lexington Win Aaron discusses the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) news after… Read More
Grand Mo The First Breezes At Gulfstream Park | Kentucky Derby News Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First, who finished a distant… Read More
Federico Tesio Stakes 2024 | Laurel Park Picks [Preakness Stakes] Having rediscovered his stakes-winning form in dramatic fashion last month… Read More