Hollywood Derby GI
$300.000 Three Year Olds
1 1/8 Miles Turf
Del Mar November 29, 2025

I covered two races this weekend and they were both won by Nakamura homebreds where the winner was practically the only starter ever for their two winning in-house stallions. Neon Lightning accounts for all but $0.320 of his sire Thunder At Sunset’s progeny earnings. A very nice weekend for Nakamura and their homebreds. 

Winner: Neon Lightning (Nakamura Stables/I. Castillo) Thunder At Sunset/Apennine (Crossing The Rubicon) Couldn’t have been any simpler. Post One. Break on top. Go to the lead. Keep the lead to the wire. That is exactly what Neon Lightning did and never had any serious challenge the entire race. 

Second: Pinewood Derby (Blazin D/A.R. Rodriguez) Pirate Dreams/Generals Lonely (Generals Opus) Was patiently ridden midpack in the early stages and was poised to make a run at the winner coming into the stretch. The winner never came back to him, and he could not mount a serious threat despite making some gains very late. Three race win streak was broken but ran well and was clearly second best. 

Third: Negril (Winning Link Stables/U. Rispoli) Livinonthebeach/Manderley Bay (Residency) Sat back in the small field and tried to mount a rally. Followed the second-place finisher and like that one did not rally enough to be a serious challenger to the winner.

Fourth: Bold Decision (Mb Stables/Mario Guttierrez) Bold Ruler/Indecisive (Worst Case Scenario) Broke well and tried to push the leader but could not keep up the pace and began to give way on the final turn. Was just caught at the wire for third.

This was Neon Lightning’s third stakes win this year and his first G1. He has won five of ten starts in 2025 and this win, combined with his win in the lucrative Gun Runner at KD, give him earnings of nearly $1,600.000 in a very impressive sophomore season.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES