Palos Verdes Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Stakes
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
January 25, 2020
There were not many people that believed that Salili would have been successful in his return to the main track. Despite a good looking win the in AQU Turf Sprint Championship in his last start, he was made the longest shot on the board here in the Palos Verdes. Not that he should have been the favorite, as after all, he was not as good on this surface back when he was running on it, and that the Palos Verdes is an upgrade over that AQU race even if the race was held on turf. He was not one of our picks, either. All of that doesn’t matter, as we run these races for a reason, and trainer Nakamura Stables hd his Cherokee Sunset colt ready to run, and Salili, despite starting from near the outside would get the trainer’s first win in the stake. Aboard the winner was A T Gryder, who did win the race once, back in 2008. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:09.07, not quite as fast as the last two years, but all that was needed. Note that Di Farley ended up scratching from the race. Let’s take a look at it!
(1/4 Mile- :22.13)- Things get off to a pretty quick start out of the gate, and it ends up being We Tallawah, from Night Rider Stables jumping out to the early advantage. He has some pressure coming from the outside in the form of Bigking’s Star Sailer. Also beginning quite well was our eventual winner from Nakamura Stables, Salili. While he never applied instant pressure to We Tallawah, he was right behind him in the stalking position, and stayed there as we moved into the turn. Running right beside him was Rainstorm, from Fractious. Others were nearby as well, as both Machine Gun Tommy, also from Fractious, and A Beagle Named Boo, out of John Henry, were within two lengths of the lead. Running in the middle of the field were Glorious (Spankys Barn) and Cardinal Direction (D J C Racing Stables). Starting at the back would be Torque Converter (Greeko Holdem), Harleys Hope (TwinTowersRacing), and Peculiar Sensation (Mb Stables).
(½ Mile- :44.63; Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- We Tallawah remains the leader into the turn, and continues to hold the advantage at the top of the stretch, but the post-time favorite is now beginning to look vulnerable. Approaching the exit of the turn, the biggest movers looked to be the ones at the back of the pack, hinting that we may be in for an intense stretch battle. For Salili, he had traveled the turn while running four wide and took over the second position at the top of the stretch, with just a length to make up. Star Sailer had fallen back, and was now part of a group of five horses that were heads apart of the third position, however he was falling back. The other horses here were A Beagle Named Boo and Glorious, who each were hitting their best stride while in the inside two lanes, while Machine Gun Tommy and Rainstorm were also a part of it. Torque Converter, Harleys Hope, and Cardinal Direction while looking for room, while Peculiar Sensation had the best lane open to him, and look to make the outside push.
(Finish- 1:09.07)- With a furlong to go, it’s becoming very clear that we are about to have one of our classic tight HRP finishes at the wire. We Tallawah is doing all he can to hold on, but Salili is nibbling on his lead, Peculiar Sensation is flying on the outside picking up spots, and A Beagle Named Boo is prevailing within the next group of horses. Salili makes the pass but still has to hang on over his rivals in the closing moments. In that tight finish, he prevails in photo over the dead heating second place runners, A Beagle Named Boo and Peculiar Sensation. Glorious sniped Machine Gun Tommy at the wire for the fourth place check and they were also within half a length from victory. We Tallawah is a length back in sixth. Rounding this out are Harleys Hope, Cardinal Direction, Rainstorm, Torque Converter and Star Sailer.
About The Winner- Salili, trained by Nakamura Stables, and ridden to victory by A T Gryder, is a four year old colt by Cherokee Sunset, and is out of Mourn. He was bred in Florida by Team 7 Illusions as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Nakamura Stables unraced in a March 2018 private sale for $150.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 13 starts, his third stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $387.190.
Track: Fast
Time: :22 :443 :563 1:09
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 10 – 3 Paid 111.90, 10 – 9 Paid 74.90
$1 Trifecta: 10 – 3 – 9 Paid 720.30, 10 – 9 – 3 Paid 720.30
Scratched: Di Farley
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
