California Dreamin Stakes ($150.000 Purse)
DMR- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled in CA
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
July 25, 2021

Moonlight Special has proven that he can run well in big races, as after all he began this year finishing second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel. However, he has not consistently been given top level opportunities like that, or what he would take on here in the California Dreamin Stakes. It had been a little more than ninety days since his last race, so that was a mild concern as well. On Sunday, Moonlight Special would show the talent that he possesses, edging out our pick, Cool Dude Que, to get the win. He is trained by Allinthegate, and for the trainer it is their first win in the stake and likewise for jockey J J Hernandez. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:39.62, a middle of the road winning time in the race’s history. Let’s take a look.

(¼ Mile- :23.51)- Cool Dude Que goes out to the early lead for Nakamura Stables, and running to his inside, carrying 130 pounds, is Paradise Stable’s Time Warrior. They would have two stalkers, with Real Quiet being scored in third for Night Rider Stables. He had a head in front of our eventual winner, Allinthegate’s Moonlight Special. After them, you had to go back a long way to find anyone else. Phooey Politics (Onlineracingclubcom) was eight lengths from the leader, and Napoleanic War (Angelos Stable) was nine out early on.

(½ Mile- :46.76)- Cool Dude Que picks up slightly in the second quarter of the race, and this allows him to pull out to an approximate two length lead. Time Warrior was not going to be able to keep up with him here, and drops back to run with both Real Quiet and Moonlight Special. Each of them were content to run their own races at this point in a stalking position. Phooey Politics and Napoleanic War continued to be way back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- It is beginning to look like Cool Dude Que might have an easy time tonight. He continues to show the way, pulling away from the competition in the backstretch and maintains his stride throughout the turn. At the top of the stretch, he leads by two lengths, but he does have one horse to worry about. That would be Moonlight Special, who completed the pass of Real Quiet in the turn and would be in striking range during the stretch. It would not be an easy task, however. Meanwhile, Time Warrior dropped out of it and neither Phooey Politics nor Napoleanic War were showing intentions of making a strong stretch bid.

(Finish- 1:39.62)- Early in the stretch, Moonlight Special was inching closer to Cool Dude Que, but it did not seem like he would have enough time if he just closed at that rate. In the final half furlong, he showed more heart and Cool Dude Que did not have anything left in the tank to respond to the challenge. In the nick of time, Moonlight Special would get up ahead of Cool Dude Que to get the win in a photo finish. It was three lengths back to third place Real Quiet. Everyone else disappoints tonight, as the final running order goes down as Phooey Politics, Napoleanic War, and Time Warrior.

About The Winner- Moonlight Special, trained by Allinthegate and ridden to victory by J J Hernandez is a four year old gelding by Peppermint Moon, and is out of Chai Special. He was bred in California as a yearling by Allinthegate, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in 15 starts, and his third stake win. His career earnings are now $220.060.

Track: Firm
Time: :23²  :46³  1:09⁴  1:39³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 5 Paid 8.60
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 5 – 3 Paid 974.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded