Californian Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
April 17, 2021

The Californian Stakes boasted a good field with the likes of Combat Wombat in it, and we almost saw Tactical run in it. It seemed a little up for grabs between a few horses, and Home Spirit didn’t get a lot of support from the betting public, going off at odds of 23/1. He was part of our picks, though, so we can’t call him a complete surprise. The gelding has been running well and been able to get a piece of the purse recently, but people were likely scared off by his lack of a win since August 2020. That would change in this race, as the longshot pulled off the win for trainer Night Rider Stables, giving him his first win in the stake. Long time rider M E Smith wins this for the first time, as well. Congratulations to them! The race was run in a time of 1:47.50, the third fastest in its history, but the fastest of the races run here at SA. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :47.24)- Orion Nebula gets off to a strong start for John Henry, quickly pulling out to a length and a half lead over the rest of the field right out of the gate, and he maintains that position after the first half a mile. There is a group of four lined up right behind him, and the best of the horses end up being the two in the outer lanes, as Maxmillion Farm’s Combat Wombat, and Night Creature, from D J C Racing Stables, battle for the second position. They end up getting about half a length on the other two to their inside, which is where our eventual winner, Home Spirit is, for Night Rider Stables. On the rail here is Machine Gun Tommy, for Nakamura Stables. Behind our stalkers, Detained (Gdp Inc) looks like he might join that group of four a couple times, but does not make that advance. Zombie City (Eastern Equine) and Belo Horizonte (John Henry) are to his outside, and the trailer is the longest shot on the board, Tip The Dancer (Nolespan Racing).

(¾ Mile- 1:10.71)- Orion Nebula is still showing the way, and has not had a challenger up to this point as the advantage remains a length and a half. The next group of four are pretty similar in how they are lined up, though Night Creature pulls ahead of Combat Wombat by almost a length now. Home Spirit holds his ground, but has not made a push yet as he sits about two lengths from the lead, and Machine Gun Tommy does the same. Nothing is developing further back.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- It is still Orion Nebula out front, but his lead is in jeopardy now as Night Creature is now within a half a length. At this point, our pick to win the race seemed to be in a good position despite having the four wide trip. Home Spirit was beginning his push on the exit of the turn, and had the pass completed of Combat Wombat as we hit the top of the stretch, and that had to excite his trainer. Combat Wombat was still fourth, and not out of it. Machine Gun Tommy remained glued to the rail, but lost a length to Home Spirit here. Detained tried to keep up with these, but looked like he might lose that battle. The others were becoming also-rans unless there was not a frantic late bid.

(Finish- 1:47.50)- In the stretch, Night Creature was unable to make the pass of Orion Nebula until Home Spirit left them in the dust. It was a great stretch push by Home Spirit, and he was particularly strong in the final furlong, impressively drawing away as they approached the wire, and looking like he could keep going and going. His margin of victory is a length and a half. Machine Gun Tommy’s rail trip got him second, but he never was a threat for the win. In the waning moments, Night Creature did pass Orion Nebula, but both ran out of gas in the stretch. So, too, did Combat Wombat, who has a disappointing fifth place finish. The others were just along for the ride. Rounding it out, it’s Detained, Belo Horizonte, Zombie City, and Tip The Dancer.

About The Winner- Home Spirit, trained by Night Rider Stables and ridden to victory by M E Smith, is a four year old gelding by Anybody Home, and is out of the late To A Inmotion. He was bred in Louisiana as a second quarter two year old by Aml Racing, and acquired by Night Rider Stables in May 2020, via Spooky Racing for a $7.500 claim. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 14 starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $264.050.

Track: Fast
Time: :47¹  1:10³  1:35   1:47²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 3 Paid 193.00
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 3 – 9 Paid 1,562.30

Scratched: Tactical, Winchester

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES