San Felipe (Grade 2) (KYD)- $500.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 9, 2019
Chrystal Believer was made the favorite for the San Felipe Stakes, as well as being our pick to win, and while starting on the rail for this race, he did not disappoint. He came in to the race being 7th on the KYD leaderboard, but on a big day of TC preps, there was still a need to earn more points. Chrystal Believer would do that, and now assures Maxmillion Farm of at least one entry in the KYD. It is the trainer’s first win in the stake. For jockey J Talamo, it is his second win in three years, and third overall in this race. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.50, the second quickest in the history of the race. Let’s take a look!
(1/4 Mile- :23.45)- Breaking the quickest out of the gate would be Not To Be Denied, for D J C Racing Stables, but as they moved into the turn, the early advantage would be taken by Team 7 Illusions’ Feathers Not Dots. That one led by three quarters of length at this juncture of the race over Not To Be Denied, and third place Blowberg, who was also good early for Estero Farms. Devil Snake got off to a smooth start for Joshua Stables, and kept with the front three while running on the rail. After a length, we had a pretty tight pack in the middle of the field . Eventual winner Chrystal Believer was inside of a three wide group for Maxmillion Farm, and had Red Cup (Our Athletes) and King Niagra (John Henry) to his outside. These would ultimately be the top three finishers, interestingly enough. To their outside a length back were Brady Is A Lady (Sharis Stables) and Port Niagra (D J C Racing Stables), with Peppermint Force (Allinthegate). The trailers were War Command (Fractious) and Fleet Commander (Nakamura Stable), the latter of which was well off the pace.
(½ Mile- :47.36)- As we make our way down the backstretch, they are three wide now at the front, with Feathers Not Dots in a good battle with Blowberg and Not To Be Denied to his outside. We see some movement for position behind them, especially out of King Niagra, who moves up nicely while in the third lane. This creates another three wide group behind the leaders. Devil Snake was still on the inside, while Chrystal Believer was in between them, hoping for a lane to open up between Blowberg and Not To Be Denied. Red Cup was now in a position to have to follow Chrystal Believer through. Port Niagra was to his outside. War Command advanced in the backstretch and is now part of the pack on the rail. Brady Is A Lady was just to the outside of Red Cup, and Peppermint Force lost some ground. Fleet Commander was still way back, four lengths behind Peppermint Force.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Moving into the final turn, Feathers Not Dots had enough and was no longer able to keep up. Blowberg and Not To Be Denied were now left to battle one another, but towards the exit of the turn, new challengers were emerging. Chrystal Believer opted for the familiar race winning outside lane while approaching the top of the stretch, and ended up taking the advantage earlier then I had been anticipating. King Niagra was advancing, too, just not at the same rate. Red Cup was still maintaining his position on the track to follow Chrystal Believer, and this helped him with traffic. Devil Snake showed good awareness to move off to the rail due to the dropping Feathers Not Dots, and seemed to be in a good spot at this juncture of the race. War Command was also continuing to move forward, and one of our early trailers was now within two lengths. Brady Is A Lady wanted to move up, but had a bit of a traffic jam in front of him and would have to wait longer then desired for a clear lane to present itself. Port Niagra looked to be struggling, while Peppermint Force had time to get involved. Fleet Commander was still three lengths behind Peppermint Force.
(Finish- 1:41.50)- In the stretch, Chrystal Believer made many people believers, quickly putting away the rest of the field. There were others moving well in the stretch, so his two length victory is particularly impressive, and it looked he could have run much longer, as well. Red Cup gets second, and had a little more traffic difficulty. I think his performance here is actually a better second place performance then it might seem, especially at longer TC distances. King Niagra is a head in front for third, ahead of the classic wall of horses. The wall is officially scored as: War Command, Not To Be Denied, Peppermint Force, Blowberg, and Devil Snake. Port Niagra tired late on the outside while Feathers Not Dots tired on the inside. Fleet Commander was outclassed.
About The Winner- Chrystal Believer, trained by Maxmillion Farm and ridden to victory by J Talamo is a three year old colt by Chrystal Coin, and is out of You Gotta Believe. He was bred in the great breeding state of Pennsylvania by Maxmillion Farm as a yearling, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in 10 starts, and his second graded win. His career earnings are now $665.200.
Track: Fast
Time: :232 :471 1:11 1:412
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 22.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 6 Paid 205.60
Scratched: Fear The Dragon, Soviet Warrior
Winner and Exacta Picked by NS
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
