San Francisco Mile (Grade 3)- $175.000 Purse
GG- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
April 27, 2024

Jakarta came into the San Francisco Mile trying to win the race for the second consecutive year, and while he would be in a photo finish at the wire, he would need to settle for second on this day as Love Of The Derby picked up the win for Mb Stables. This was our pick to win, and we did also have the superfecta, boxed, which isn’t too shabby in a race where the odds were very evenly spread out through most of the field. The win for Love Of The Derby is the fourth such victory in the race for Mb Stables as he last won the race in 2020 with Kimura. Jockey F T Alvarado is a two-time winner, winning for the first time since 2014. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:32.53. Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :23.22)- Not surprisingly, our eventual winner, Love Of The Derby goes out to the lead for Mb Stables, which is what we usually expect from him. Jakarta is there to run with him for Nakamura Stables around the opening turn, and they are joined by Mo Mentum Farm’s Storm Cloud who is three wide here. There are four horses in the stalking position right behind them, with two more within a length of them, so this creates a six-wide formation around the opening turn. Heres Sparky (Riggins Racing) and Cazadero (Mojica Racing) are the inside horses while the two on the outside are Local Port (Rock Creek) and Sikara (Night Rider Stables). The middle pair, Penal Hocley Party (Maxmillion Farm) and Ozark (Mb Stables) are the ones that are a bit behind the others. Rod Knockin Me (Mark88) is by himself at the back.

(½ Mile- :46.42)- Love Of The Derby moves into the backstretch with the lead, and Jakarta is still right alongside him. Storm Cloud is keeping up with them, about a length behind now while in the third lane. The group of six that were behind them are still close together, but they are not six wide any longer. Heres Sparky and Local Port are even for third, with Cazadero nearby in fifth. Penal Hockey Party and Sikara run evenly, and Ozark is within a length. Rod Knockin Me is still at the back.

(Top of The Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Love Of The Derby looks comfortable while rounding the turn and is strong entering the stretch. However, he can’t completely shake Jakarta, who is runs with him and is within a length at the top of the stretch. Storm Cloud, meanwhile, cannot keep up with them and starts to lose ground. Emerging from the middle of the pack are Penal Hockey Party and Cazadero to potentially be the biggest threats to Love Of The Derby and Jakarta. Heres Sparky ran evenly while Local Port started to back out. Ozark was lacking response as Rod Knocking Me looked to make a move. Sikara was struggling at this point.

(Finish- 1:32.53)- Love Of The Derby continues to run well in the stretch, but Jakarta’s strong effort himself meant that the winner could not let up for a second. It would be officially scored as a win by a neck for Love Of The Derby, who wins for the first time this year. Jakarta takes second over Cazadero, who ran out of time. Another half furlong, and this race may have been Cazadero’s. Penal Hockey Party is fourth, over Ozark, who woke up in the stretch. Rounding it out, it’s Rod Knockin Me, Storm Cloud, Heres Sparky, Local Port, and Sikara.

About The Winner- Love Of The Derby, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by F T Alvarado, is a four-year-old gelding by Rob The Derby and is out of No Time For Love. He was bred by Two Hearts One Love in California as a third quarter two-year-old, and was acquired by Mb Stables, via Jormav, for $50.000, in a January 2023 private sale. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 17 starts, his fifth stake win, and fourth graded win. His career earnings are now $1,325.600.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46²  1:09²  1:32²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 7 Paid 64.10
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 7 – 1 Paid 442.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES