GP Mile (Grade 2)- $300.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
March 30, 2019

In our virtual world, it’s not a complete rarity to see a horse go from a cheap claimer to become a graded winner, but when it happens in a span of three months, it’s unusual even here. Night Rider Stables claimed Sonador for $10.500 from Rousee, and the five year old gelding had been passed around for low amounts prior to that. Night Rider saw much more in him, however, and showed that confidence in entering him right away in a SA allowance, that he won. Thanks to that, he was placed here, and now this cheap horse is a graded winner. Makes you wonder how many more may be out there right now not in races to their full potential. Night Rider changed his adds around, and his work is rewarded. It is his first win as both a virtual trainer and a virtual jockey in the stake, as Ro Maragh was in the saddle and picked up the win! The time of the win was 1:34.67, which is line with recent winning times. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :23.65)- Out in front early, its Steel Tunes, running for John Henry, and right behind him he has two stalkers, with Kiss The Snake to his outside for Nakamura Stables, and Charleys Agent running on the rail for Mb Stables. Behind them by another length we get what is essentially a four wide group, though as we move inside to outside here, the ones closer to the rail have a head in front of the one to their outside. This consists of the eventual race winner, Sonador for Night Rider Stables, then Creepy Palace (D J C Racing Stables), Superbourg (La Canada Racehorses), and Reach For A Latte (Saratoga Stud). Then comes the favorite, State Police, for Smokey Stover, with about four lengths to make up. Trailing, two more lengths back, is Super Jack (Gdp Inc).

(½ Mile- :47.11)- Running down the backstretch, there is no change with our leader, as Steel Tunes continues to pace the field with a length advantage. However, his closest challenger has changed as Reach For A Latte, who has previously been four wide in the middle of the field, marched towards the front with his eyes set on the lead in the turn. Kiss The Snake and Charleys Agent were still close, a length and a half back, but they had new company as well in the form of Creepy Palace. Next comes Superbourg, three lengths out, and following him is Sonador, who backed out of it towards the end of the backstretch, something that in this game, we don’t see out of a horse that ultimately wins the race. State Police was just to his inside now, and Super Jack remained the trailer.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Moving around the turn now, there was plenty of room between Steel Tunes and Reach For A Latte for horses to come through, and the three wide group of Charleys Agent, Creepy Palace, and Kiss The Snake would do exactly that. Seeing the opening, they capitalized, and at the top of the stretch they were five wide across the track for the lead. Meanwhile, Sonador was coming back as well, and following Charleys Agent with just a length and a half to make up. State Police was to his inside, but if Steel Tunes started getting leg weary, and it could be tough for him. Meanwhile, Superbourg was hoping for their to become room to split Creepy Palace and Reach For A Latte himself. Super Jack was not getting involved.

(Finish- 1:34.67)- In the stretch, we had a classic finish he in the making. Sonador had room open up for him between Charleys Agent and Kiss The Snake. Steel Tunes heard the sirens from State Police and came down off the rail to allow him through. Superbourg moved to the outside. With a furlong to go, it’s a dash for cash now. Who will it be? Prevailing at the end would be Sonador, perhaps that little bit of energy saved in the backstretch was what helped him have just a little more power in his stride to get the win, with the urging of Ro Maragh to the wire, and we know he would not be denied. It’s a tight three way photo for second, and it would go Charleys Agent, Kiss The Snake, and Creepy Palace. State Police was half a length behind them, though out the money. Reach For A Latte, Superbourg, and Steel Tunes are next, and all had better races then the ending line will show. Super Jack was never a factor.

About The Winner- Sonador, trained by Night Rider Stables, and ridden to victory by Ro Maragh, is a five year old gelding by Spanish Serenade, and is out of Tundra Seabird. He was bred in California by Frozen Tundra as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Night Rider Stables, via Rousee, in a $10.500 claimer in December 2018. He was the only one to enter a claim on him in that race. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in ten starts, his third consecutive, and first stake win. His career earnings are now $227.530.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :47   1:10²  1:34³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 130.50
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 6 Paid 400.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES