The Iselin Stakes (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
August 21, 2021

This area experienced some rain, downgrading the track to good, and that may have been the reason for the scratch of Tomahawks. The filly was the main storyline of the race, to see how her potential nine pound weight allowance would help. With her no longer in the picture, we were down to four runners, and half of them would end up as winners. Eclipse My Knowledge, trained by Nakmaura Stables and ridden by Jo Torres, and Burning Approval, trained by Mb Stables and ridden by P Lopez, took much of the money at the betting window and ended up in a dead heat for the win. Mb Stables now has four wins in the race, while Nakamura Stables wins for the first time. Each of the jockeys are first time winners. Congratulations to them! The winning time was 1:42.99. Here’s a summary of it!

1st (dh)- 4- Eclipse My Knowledge (2/5) (Nakamura Stables)- Jumped out to the early lead by a length and a half, running the first quarter in :23.84. Continued to hold the lead down the backstretch without any pressure, running a half in :47.62. Entered the stretch continuing to hold the top spot and still leading Burning Approval by a little more than a length. Looked like he might have enough to hold on early in the stretch, but Burning Approval began mounting a stronger challenge in the final furlong. The veteran showed enough heart to battle and end up getting his share of a dead heat victory.

1st (dh)- 5- Burning Approval (1/1) (Mb Stables)- With the rest of the field lined up behind Eclipse My Knowledge, Burning Approval took the third lane early on. Remained unhurried during the backstretch, a half length behind Akkadian. During the turn, he would be quicker than Akkadian and began to put them away while gradually inching closer to the leader. Early in the stretch, his advances on Eclipse My Knowledge did not seem strong enough, but he stayed with it, and was especially good in the final moments to hit the wire at the same time as Eclipse My Knowlege.

3rd- 1- Akkadian (124/1) (Night Rider Stables)- Stalked the pace setter in the early stages, utilizing the rail to do so. Would pull slightly in front of the other two he had been running with during the backstretch. Held his line but could not keep up with Burning Approval as that one began to make a move for the lead. Would only see the top two pull away from him in the stretch.

4th- 3- Commanding Hope (110/1) (Delta Farms)- Ran in the middle of the three wide group behind Eclipse My Knowledge. Began to lose touch with Burning Approval and Akkadian approaching the turn, and would only struggle within it. Never a factor thereafter.

About The Winners:
Eclipse My Knowledge, trained by Nakamura Stables and ridden by Jo Torres, is a six year old gelding by Knowledge Geek and is out of Blue Eclipse. He was bred as a first quarter two year old in California by Nakamura Stables, the only trainer in which he has ever known. The win is his 10th in 39 starts, and first since April 2020. Congratulations to the connections! He has six stake wins, four being graded, and his career earnings are now $1,416.540.

Burning Approval, trained by Mb Stables and ridden by P Lopez, is a five year old gelding by Niner Forty Niner and is out of Some Temper. He was bred in Ontario as a third quarter two year old by Mb Stables, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections! The win is his 9th in 24 starts, his fifth stake win and third graded win. His career earnings improve to $2,547.480.

Track: Good
Time: :23⁴  :47³  1:11²  1:42⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 5 Paid 1.05, 5 – 4 Paid 1.05

Scratched: Tomahawks

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES