The Water Tower ($250.00 Purse)
ELP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
August 2, 2026

Go Go Goblin came into The Water Tower running well, having finished third in a pair of ungraded stakes with lower purses in his two prior starts. This would almost make him the post time favorite, but P C Police, who was our pick to win, took a little more money at the betting window. Go Go Goblin would go out to the lead, and left the field in his dust in the stretch winning by four lengths. It gives both trainer Mb Stables and jockey R Santana Jr their first Water Tower win. Congratulations to them! The winning race time is 1:44.98 is a new stake record as well. Let’s take a look at it!

(½ Mile- :47.14)- Out of the gate, the Mb Stables pair of Go Go Gobln and Strategic Charm break well and lead the field into the opening turn. Our eventual winner starts to pull ahead within the turn, and will be the clear leader after half a mile by half a length over his stablemate. Sitting about two lengths back is Rock Creek’s Victory Avenue, and he has Threshold’s P C Police running to his outside. At the back, Brentwood runs on the grass for the first time and is seven lengths off the pace.

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.44)- Go Go Goblin puts a little more distance between himself and Strategic Charm, and now leads by a length and a half entering the final turn. Strategic Charm pulls in right behind him. In the middle of the field, we have not seen much out either Victory Avenue as they are content to ride this portion of the race out. Brentwood is still way out of it.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Within the turn, Go Go Goblin pulls away further, opening up by four and possibly having the win in the bag. You don’t want to celebrate too early, but there is no one moving forward to challenge him at this point, so all that is likely left is to watch him run. Strategic Charm is dropping back, but neither Victory Avenue nor P C Police are doing anything about it and are lacking response themselves. Brentwood is not making a late bid, either.

(Finish- 1:44.98)- Yes, indeed, the stretch will be all about watching Go Go Goblin cruise to the wire, winning the race rather easily. It will officially go down as four length victory as this one was never close. This race used to be called the KD Nashville Derby Preview, so will the Nashville Derby be the next place we see him? P C Police will be second best today, with Victory Avenue running third. Brentwood caught Strategic Charm to avoid finishing last.

About The Winner- Go Go Goblin, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by R Santana Jr, is a three year old gelding by Dirt Goblin and is out of Ategic. He was bred by Arkansas Elite in Florida as a yearling and was acquired by Mb Stables last September for $225.00 in private sales. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in twelve starts and his first stake win. His career earnings improve to $303.48.

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded