Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1)- $350.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 28, 2018

No Waiting did not necessarily live up to his name for Mb Stables. He would not enter his first stake until the end of his three year old season, and would not win any sort of stake until taking home the Vanderbilt. So, the trainer did have to wait a little bit for the latest Decima graded winner to reach his potential. Now, with this win, we can expect to see more out of him. No Waiting has been able to find the winners circle, earning his sixth win in twelve starts in this race, but now the stakes are getting much bigger for him. The win is the second in the stake for Mb Stables, who also won the race in 2016 with Oversell It. Oversell It was part of this field as well and did run third while running in different silks. The winning jockey is one and only F Pennington, who wins the race for the first time in his illustrious career. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:08.58, the third quickest in the history of the stake, but the fastest winning time of any Vanderbilt since 2005. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :22.51)- After withstanding a brief challenge by Oversell It right out of the gate, the fastest of them all would be American Phuegoah, running for The A Stable. He quickly finds himself leading the way by a length and a half as they complete the backstretch and move into the turn. 2016 Vanderbilt Winner Oversell It, now in Team 7 Illusions colors settles into second while running in the third lane. To his inside, he has the eventual winner, No Waiting in very close pursuit for Mb Stables, and also running with them is another Mb Stables’ horse, Acquisitive, who maintains his position on the rail. A length behind that threesome is the fifth place Aqua Dulce, who seems to have good track position for Sanny Village right behind No Waiting. Scouting Force, our pre-race pick, is half a length behind him for Gdp Inc. Lucky Star (Estero Farms) is next, and is about five and a half lengths off the lead while running on the outside. The trailers are Squire Chili (Chili King Stables) and Charley Cowgirl, who again is not a filly, for D J C Racing Stables.

(Top of stretch, ½ Mile- :45.07)- Running around the turn, American Phuegoah maintains his lead most of the way, but as they approach the top of the stretch, both No Waiting and Oversell It prepare to make their moves around him. They were each still a length back at this point, but both seemed to be in great position. Acquisitive was not able to match their strides, and fell into the clutches of Aqua Dulce, and now those two are battling for the fourth position. Scouting Force is backing up my confidence in him at this point, as he looks to be planning a three wide move into the stretch. Lucky Star swings out another lane to go four wide, and with four lengths to make up, it would require hard work, but certainly could be in reach for both of them here. Squire Chili and Charley Cowgirl were not looking up to the task today.

(Finish- 1:08.58)- In an exciting stretch run, No Waiting and Oversell It each complete the pass of American Phuegoah with about a furlong to go. From that point, No Waiting was just a little better then Oversell It with each stride to allow him to slip past him, but there was a new challenger coming from the outside. Lucky Star, who had been running at the back, made a fantastic four-wide bid, and gave it his all. He would run out of time to catch No Waiting, but this effort would see him be able to pass Oversell It for the second position. Oversell It is a third, ahead of American Phuegoah who held on to get a fourth place check for his trainer. It was tight for that spot, as he narrowly beats Aqua Dulce and Scouting Force. Acquisitive was in the area as well. Charley Cowgirl and super longshot Squire Chili round out the running order.

About The Winner- No Waiting, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by F Pennington, is a four year old gelding by Decima, and is out of the late Wait A Little Bit. He was bred in Ontario by Mb Stables as a third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in twelve starts, and his first stake win of any sort. His career earnings are now $338.250.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45   :56³  1:08²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 9 Paid 19.60
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 9 – 4 Paid 207.80

Scratched: El Gran Black

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES