Lord Nelson ran his win streak to four with another decisive victory–his third straight Grade I–in this “Win and You're In” qualifying event for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 5.
Sent off as the heavy favorite while facing only four rivals, the chestnut secured position tracking the pace on the outside in third as longshot All Run jetted through a quarter-mile in :21.37. Moving closer on the turn, Lord Nelson took control in the stretch and extended the advantage late over the stubborn pacesetter.
“To win the [Breeders' Cup] Sprint you have to be doing really well, be at the top of your game,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “Post position is so important, the break is important. The Sprint is a difficult race to win, but if you have the right kind of horse you can do it, and so far, Lord Nelson looks like the right kind of horse. He likes this track and he hasn't lost this year.”
Purchased privately by Spendthrift Farm following a third-place finish for Peachtree Stable in the GI Malibu S. here last December, the 2015 GII San Vicente S. winner has been unbeatable since. Lord Nelson began the streak with an optional claiming tally in Arcadia June 3 and followed with wins in the GI Triple Bend S. June 25 and GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar most recently July 31.
Pedigree Notes:
Lord Nelson's second dam is Argentinian champion 3-year-old filly Miss Linda (Arg) (Southern Halo), who won the 2001 GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Her daughter African Jade sold for 37,000gns at the 2010 Tattersalls July sale and Lord Nelson, bred by the Clearsky Farms established by the late Eamon Cleary, was her first foal. African Jade's most recent produce, the 2-year-old filly Asscher (Harlan's Holiday) ($300,000 KEESEP yearling), posted a runaway maiden win at Saratoga at third asking this summer for trainer Todd Pletcher. The mare was bred to Medaglia d'Oro this year.
Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP S.-GI, $300,000, SA, 10-8, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.80, ft.
1–LORD NELSON, 125, c, 4, by Pulpit
1st Dam: African Jade, by Seeking the Gold
2nd Dam: Miss Linda (Arg), by Southern Halo
3rd Dam: Miss Peggy (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg)
($340,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Clearsky
Farms (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 13-7-1-1, $958,271. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”eisamanequine-shell”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–All Run, 121, g, 5, Flower Alley–Proud Runner, by Proud
Citizen. O-Durwood Ashcroft; B-Esquire Stables (1990) Ltd.
(AB); T-Richard Baltas. $60,000.
3–Jazzy Times, 118, c, 3, Discreetly Mine–Jazzy Melissa, by
Grand Slam. 'TDN Rising Star' ($45,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP;
$460,000 2yo '15 OBSMAR). O-Zayat Stables, LLC; B-R Durham
Racing LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $36,000.[bullet ad=”sallusto-albina-yearling-purchase”][bullet ad=”eqb-2yopurchase”][bullet ad=”crestwood-foaledraisedsold”][bullet ad=”sgv-grad”]Margins: 2HF, 3 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.50, 23.50, 1.50.
Also Ran: Cautious Giant, Anytime Anyplace.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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