Obrien Stakes (Grade 2) (BC)- $200.000 Purse
DMR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 27, 2016

Accidental Notice has always been a good race  horse, winning seven of 21 career racing coming into the Obrien Stakes, but other then a win in the $50.000 Tishomingo Stakes at RP, the best races he had won were allowances.  Trainer Joseph Racing always had confidence, and continually raced Accidental Notice in graded events, and he was rewarded with many strong performances.  He’s had some very close calls and others where he was with the leaders until the very end, but had never been able to get that elusive win.  That all changed on Saturday in a field of 12 at the Grade 2 Obrien Stakes.   The last time he had gone this seven furlong distance was the Tishomingo, and he found it here to be just to his liking, as he scores the big win! It is the first win in the stake for both trainer and jockey, F H Perez.  The time of the win was 1:21.44, ranking it in the middle when looking at past editions.  Congratulations! Here’s a summary of how it went down!

Quarter Mile (23:15)-   Eventual winner Accidental Notice broke sharply out of the gate for Joseph Racing, but was beaten by a couple strides by Boomtown’s Salt Lake City after the first two furlongs.  Roxys Triple Crown, looking to complete the hat trick of Aer Stables victories in the races I covered this week, ran with the two leaders as well.  After the frontrunners, there was a gap of two lengths to another threesome that was running threewide, Shelby Mustang (John Henry), Giada (Mb Stables), and Phelps (Mb Stables).    Tucked in just behind them was Aqua Dulce (Sanny Village), running 7th and Sky Heights in his debut Kopites, who seemed to have a nice clear lane on the rail opening up.

A little further back, Five Star Five (Harrell Racing) tried to keep in close contact with Agua Dulce and Sky Heights with Milestone (Mcl Stables) a length further back.  Showing absolutely no interest whatsoever in getting involved early were our two trailers, No Doubt About It (Paradise Stable) and Wild Glory (Mb Stables).

Half Mile (45.91)- Things remained stable until the field hit the top of the turn.  Accidental Notice and Salt Lake City were each running very well at the front end, matching strides as they went around the turn.  Roxys Triple Crown began to back off from them, so their lead was now pushed to two lengths on the field.   Phelps was able to pull away from both Shelby Mustang and Giada and began to reel in Roxys Triple Crown.  His lane was as clear as one would see in a pool at this point, though Phelps usually doesn’t have an outside lane.   Shelby Mustang moved up to the rail, completely closing off the breathing room that Sky Heights may have had, while Giada drifted out a lane.  This worked perfectly for the two who had been behind them, both Agua Dulce and Sky Heights as they looked to squeeze through the opening between them. Still with four lengths to make up.  Five Star Five was still trying to hang with them, while the back three were still not posing any threats.

Six Furlongs (1:09.20)- The battle at the front remained intense, but it started to look as though Accidental Notice would have more left in the tank then Salt Lake City as they reached six furlongs, but Salt Lake City was still giving a battle.   The intention of Phelps was clear in the 4th lane (guess that makes sense), and he was coming on hard, but still had about a length and a half to make up.  Roxys Triple Crown was still showing some heart as well but could not hold Phelps off for third.

Towards the back a little bit, the switch got flicked on for Five Star Five and he swung out about four or five wide and it appeared as though he was going to make a concerted push, maybe not to get the leaders, but still get a check.  Agua Dulce and Sky Heights still continued to run side by side, but their respective runs seemed to stabilize, with only slight advancement, and they did not seem to pose a threat to the frontrunners at this point as three lengths would still be too much to make up.   Shelby Mustang and Giada packed it in, while Milestone, No Doubt About It and Wild Glory showed little still and were just picking off those who were tiring.

Finish (1:21.44)– Accidental Notice and F H Perez would not be denied.  After so many close calls at the graded level, this colt needed to fight every step of the way because Salt Lake City was beside him making him earn it throughout, and then you had a very strong stretch run by Phelps coming from his outside.  As they hit the line, the stewards needed to examine the close photo between Accidental Notice and Phelps, but on this day Joseph Racing and Accidental Notice will be the ones in the winners circle.  D Van Dyke did everything he could with Phelps, and also turning in a fantastic run was third place Salt Lake City.

It was then a length or so back to fourth place Sky Heights, who’s steady run allowed him to get a check in his debut for Kopites.  Agua Dulce was close in 5th, with Five Star Five taking sixth away from Roxys Triple Crown in the dying moments.  The efforts of these three were solid, all things considered.  After that we had the three the lingered in back most of the way, and never got involved in the race, really: Milestone, No Doubt About It, and Wild Glory.  Shelby Mustang and Giada were disappointments.

About The Winner: Accidental Notice is a four year old colt by Accidental Spirit and out of La Vie En Rose.  He was bred in the great breeding state of Pennsylvania as a second quarter two year old by Joseph Racing, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections!  He now has a career record of (22-8-6-4) with $359.630 in earnings.

Track: Fast
Time: :23   :45⁴  1:09¹  1:21²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 8 Paid 64.00
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 8 – 5 Paid 1,434.90

Scratched: Texas Dandy, Xmas Grey, Apocazeus

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES