Na Pali Makes Her Mark in Natalma Stakes

By Nynl Stables on September 16, 2018

Natalma Stakes (Grade 1) (BC)- $250.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile on the Turf
September 16, 2018

Na Pali seemed like one of the horses to beat in the Natalma Stakes. She had proven she could beat tough company at over a mile prior to the race, and her works were excellent coming into the race. This put her as our second choice, and she would end up being the post time favorite. It’s not all the time that everything aligns in a race like this, but Na Pali backed up the hype and will head to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, as long as her trainer wants her there. Smokey Stover still has talent in his barn, and can be excited about where this filly may be headed in the BC, and then as a three year old. He earned his first win in the stake, and so to did trainer L H Colon. Great weekend at WO for Colon, we’re sure its beats TDN any day. The time of the victory was 1:33.44, making it third quickest edition of the race in its history. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :23.29)- Out of the gate, Lila is determined to get out on the lead for First Street Stables, but has company with a couple of others having the same intention. Get Up Stand Up, for Night Mare Racing, and Command Stroke, for D J C Racing Stables, are right there with her after a quarter mile. Diluted, out of Aer Stables is fourth on the rail, and running level with her is the eventual winner for Smokey Stover, Na Pali. Her stalking trip has her just two lengths from the lead. Power Of Aggravation (Estero Farms) is between horses half a length back, and she has Snowy Mountain Sam (John Henry) and One Stop (Mb Stables) right behind her, on each side. Hey Good Lookin (Luz International) is also with this group. There would be then be a gap of nearly two lengths to our three trailers, French Box (Threshold), Because (Mb Stables), and Princess Of Sylmar (Blushing Meadows).

(½ Mile- :46.59)- Halfway into the race, the one we picked to beat Na Pali, Get Up Stand Up was at this point, not making us look bad, and led by a half length on Lila. Diluted came off the rail as they approached the turn, and looked to battle Command Stroke for the third position, and advance further. Power Of Aggravation was next, trailing by three, and then it was another length to Snowy Mountain Sam. So, what happened to Na Pali? Wasn’t she stalking the leaders earlier? Indeed she was, but as the backstretch trip took place, she would be restrained by L H Colon, and now run seventh and be nearly five lengths out. She still had an outside position on the track, as Colon wanted to be patient with her. Hey Good Lookin was right along side her as well to battle for that spot. One Stop, French Box, Princess Of Sylmar, and Because were all at the back still, waiting for their time to strike.

(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- The early portion of the turn was not that exciting, but the latter half of it more then made up for it. At the front end, Diluted pounced on the race lead, and looked to be in a good position as they hit the top of the stretch, with a length advantage over her closest pursuers. For the moment, that was still Lila and Get Up Stand Up, but each of them looked to be in sitting ducks for others in the field to get by. Command Stroke, who had run with Diluted earlier, would not make the same move. The biggest excitement here came from Na Pali, who midway through moved out an extra lane and got set to make a power move. Approaching the exit of the turn, she made up significant ground, and while she was still fifth, the gap had been cut to two lengths. Surely, she’d move up to at least second, but could she catch Diluted? Snowy Mountain Sam, Power Of Aggravation, and Hey Good Lookin all still ran in the middle of the field, and the time was coming for those in the back to make their move.

(Finish- 1:33.44)- With a furlong and a half to go, this quickly became a two horse race. Diluted had pulled away from everyone not named Na Pali, and the gap from Na Pali to third place quickly became two lengths. There started to become some shuffling in the back as earlier leader dropped back and some closers made their move, but all of that was going to be for third. Diluted was looking good, but Na Pali was looking just a little bit better, and with just under a furlong to go, it looked like Na Pali switched into another gear to cruise to the race victory over second place Diluted. French Box was running great late, and Threshold can be excited about what she might do at greater distances, but right now, it was a third place effort, and two lengths ahead of a gaggle of horses following. Because, another closer, gets the fourth place check, and would have been closer to the front if not for an outside trip. Everyone else could have finished almost any way, but officially the final order reads: Snowy Mountain Sam, Power Of Aggravation, One Stop, Hey Good Lookin, Lila, Command Stroke, Get Up Stand Up, and Princess Of Sylmar.

About The Winner- Na Pali, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden to victory by L H Colon is a two year old filly by Connectivity and is out of So Chai. She was bred in New Jersey by Smokey Stover as a first quarter two year old, her only ever trainer. The win is her second in three starts, and her career earnings are now $180.600.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Na Pali

Smokey Stover

Colon L H

3.40

1¹