In this new trend of naming horses after famous athletes, in San Vicente Ginobili and Nadal met, bombastic figures of the NBA and Tennis respectively.
The expectation was focused on the reappearance of Storm The Court, winner of BC Juvenile last November, ridden by the Frenchman Flavien Pratt. Peter Eurton’s pupil was not forced to march, although the brutal pace of the pointers was able to reflect that it would be impossible to reach them, so his effort was only enough to achieve a discreet fourth place.
Nadal and Ginobili already mounted on the motorcycle came up with the bucket, exchanging the lead throughout the journey, until Joel Rosario put the accelerator in Nadal and said goodbye to his rival in the last two hundred meters.
This triumph placed the student of Bo Baffert in the elite of the candidates on the first Saturday of May, the offspring of Blame, who was the executioner of the champion Zenyatta a decade ago, is outlined as the successor of Justify, with two perfect outings and many others to be reached to reach the legendary Churchill Downs stage with four efforts.
The next commitment for Nadal will be the Rebel Stakes, in Oaklawn Park, a commitment in which he must show that he is ready for the big events on two curves.
For this Saturday the Camino Real Derby will be played at Golden Gate and the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, the latter with 50 points for the winner, 20 to the second, 10 to the third and 5 to fourth.
Next Monday, a holiday in the United States (Presidents’ Day) the Southwest will be run in Arkansas and by the last Saturday of this second month of the year, the Fountain Of Youth will be held in Gulfstream Park.
We will see who joins Tiz The Law and Nadal, as the best of the 2017 generation.