The 18th Running of the G3 Palos Verdes Stakes

January 29, 2022

SA Race #8 17:50 $200.000 6 Furlongs 

4+ 123 Lbs (Plus Penalties)

Track Record-1:07.59 (Alpha Ultimo-2008)

Stakes Record-1:07.64 (Native Son-2008)

5yo gelding Ginger Clean had never ran in a graded stakes before Saturday’s $200.000 G3 Palos Verdes going 6-furlongs at SA.  Turns out, experience is overrated.  Ginger Clean (Ginger Haggis o/o Haha House) took advantage of an almost perfect trip as he traveled comfortably through the early stages of the Palos Verdes before unleashing a rally that left his opponents in his wake.  Completing the 6-furlongs in 1:08.68, The Sidley Stud trainee improved his record to 26-8-7-3 for earnings of $276.860.

Giner Clean got away without incident and settled in the two path in the four-horse 2nd flight as Laran set the tempo up front.  The race setup changed when Thunder Canyon moved to press the front-runner through an opening quarter that went in :22.47.  K.J. Desormeaux got his mount to relax and Ginger Clean eased-back a bit further and was travelling comfortably in fifth as the two horses to his outside pressed-on towards the front.

Just after Laran reached the half-mile point in :45.03, Thunder Canyon became the new leader as the top two prepared to enter the turn.  Ginger Clean maintained his path around the turn while he moved closer to the new leader.  The winner had to wait a bit for clear run but once he saw daylight nearing the sixteenth pole, the race was pretty much over.  Moving powerfully through the last 100-yards, Ginger Clean reached the wire a length and a half in front of Have Phun.  The latter won a three-way photo for the place as When Your Strange and Thunder Canyon had to settle for third and fourth, respectively.  Tko ran on from the back to be fifth and was followed across the wire by Was Done, Catch Speedy, and Laran.

Congratulations to The Sidley Stud and his 5yo gelding Ginger Clean for their victorious effort in the G3 Palos Verdes at SA!

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES