SA Sprint Championship (Grade 1) (BC)- $300.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
October 8, 2016

Despite his name, it was fair to have doubts about No Doubt About It heading in the SA Sprint Championship.  Over the summer months out at DMR, he had two very different races, a ninth place finish in the Grade 2 Obrien, though a win in an optional claimer.  Prior to that, it was another ninth place run, coming in the Grade 1 BG Stakes.   There is no denying he has the talent, but the doubts could come on whether or not he is going to show that talent on a race by race basis.  On this day, No Doubt About It showed us what he was capable of doing, as he picks up the win here in this race to earn his place in the BC Sprint.  Now, the only question will be, can he have two strong ones back to back, or will his two fall runs at SA be like this two summer runs at DMR: one strong, one not so much.  Today, we will celebrate this winner, as well as the trainer, Mb Stables.   This is the first time that Mb has won this stake… that’s a sentence not often said anymore! Aboard the winner was P Hernandez-Ortega, who had himself a pretty good day here at SA, winning both graded events.  It is also his first win in the stake.  The time of the win was 1:08.93, putting it midpack when compared to prior editions.  Congratulations to the winners! Let’s look more at it!

1st- 11- No Doubt About It (34/1)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables was unhurried out of the starting gate, and would stabilize in a position running near the back of the field, alongside Domination Nation.  Heading into the turn, he had five and a half lengths to make up, running in the 9th position, and about five wide.  But on this day, No Doubt About It was not going to let that “9th” stick around long on his race line here.  Only about midway into the turn did it look as though he was preparing to make a move, and at the top of the stretch, he seemed to have good position, but still had four lengths to make up on some very good horses.   In the final furlong, No Doubt About It and P Hernandez-Ortega were simply not going to be denied.  This is where he exploded with run, and there was no one in this field who could match up.  The only question would be as to if Five Star Five, who had also been making a move, could hold him off.  I had my doubts as to whether or not he would initially, but in the very last moments, it seemed as though he found yet another gear, demonstrating that tremendous heart we knew his dad would have, and commanded his way up to the wire just in time to get the win!  No Doubt About It is a three year old colt by Commanding and out of No Prayers (Tree Of Knowledge).  He was bred in Ontario as a second quarter two year old by Mb Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known! The time again was 1:08.93.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 5- Five Star Five (32/1)- Starting from post 5 proved to be good for Five Star Five and Harrell Racing.  He started sharp, and stalked the leading Saphir du Rheu down the backstretch, trailing by about a length as we moved into the turn.  Coming out of the turn, he was in full stride, and took over the lead in the stretch and things seemed to be looking good.   Unfortunately for the trainer, the race proved to be just a little bit too long as the high flying No Doubt About It would show up today and get up just in time.  In the end, this is a strong performance from another horse in this race that really needed one.

3rd- 1- One City (21/1)- Got off to a steady start along the rail for his trainer, Kopites.  He would not press the leaders, but was comfortable running his own pace, about three lengths pack and fifth in the running order down the backstretch.  Never went off the rail, and as the turn progressed, he started inching his way closer and closer to the leaders.  He responded nicely in the stretch, and did all he could.

4th- 10- Saphir du Rheu (8/1)- Shot out of the gate for his trainer, Australia Wide, who was looking to continue his dominance in this race.  Seemed sharp early as he ran a quarter in :22.40. Remained strong while entering the turn, and maintained his lead into the top of the stretch.  Once there, he really seemed to dig in and do everything that he was capable of doing, and it earns the trainer the fourth place check.

5th- 3- Oh Awesome One (7/1)- Ran alongside Accidental Notice down the backstretch.  This put the John Henry entry in the middle of the field, four lengths back, while running three wide as we moved into the turn.  In the turn, especially approaching the exit, he seemed to look quite good, but jockey G Boulanger seemed indecisive as to what would be the best lane to take.  Once in a lane, and it took a bit of time to decide, he ran well, but the indecisiveness cost the trainer a check.

6th- 4- Domination Nation (9/2)- The Double J Stables entry did not start all that well, but he still had good company to his outside as he was matching strides with the eventual winner down the backstretch and into the turn.  Stayed in this position around the turn, but as No Doubt About It began to move forward, Domination Nation could not move up with the same kind of power.  He was solid in the stretch, but comes up short.

7th- 8- Hathersage (87/1)- The longest shot on the board from Sanny Village started well from the gate, and seemed good in the backstretch, as he stalked the leader about a length back.  Heading into the turn, still seemed to be in a good position to strike.  He would never really, strike.  But what he would do is hold his own very nicely and run with the lead pack down the stretch and get a finishing position that doesn’t quite truly show the quality of his effort.

8th- 2- Accidental Notice (4/1)- Our pick in the preview got off to a midpack start for trainer Joseph Racing, running four lengths out and still in a decent position strike when going down the backstretch.  In the stretch, he seemed to be lost in the shuffle as horses began going by on both sides.  He was really the first of the second half of the field, the top seven all seemed to have a good shot, then there was everyone else.

9th- 12- Sir Jive (12/1)- The second entry from Kopites did not fare as well as his stablemate would, going right to the back of the field and ahead of only Astrobound down the backstretch.  Coming into the top of the stretch, he moved to the rail and wanted to make a move.  In itself, he was ok in the stretch, but all that ground he conceded early would not be made up.

10th- 7- Generosity (23/1)- The Downwind Stables entry was not interested in the early pace and was well beaten down the backstretch, trailing by a little over six lengths.  Stayed back there and looked to move forward at the same time as Sir Jive as the two of them moved to the rail, with Generosity all the way up against it.   He would not threaten the frontrunners.

11th- 6- Kremlin (6/1)- We may have to chalk this one up to a lack of rest.   The Maxmillion Farm gelding had just two weeks off before this race.  We always notice when it works out, but often times, it doesn’t.  Started decently, running just a couple lengths from the lead, but in the end the fresher horses were too strong.

12th- 9- Astrobound (4/1)- As a bunch of longshots finished in the top spots, this Mwn Racing entry was actually the post-time favorite.  He went right to the back, and never passed anyone.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :44⁴  :56³  1:08⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 11 – 5 Paid 3,155.20
$1 Trifecta: 11 – 5 – 1 Paid 1,701.80

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES