Godolphin’s Half-Blood Popularity sit down at a fast pace set by 6-5 favorites Nashville April 9 before clear draw to win Keeneland$300,000 in Commonwealth Shares (G3) for older sprinters. Darley stallion’s 4-year-old son Medalgia d’Oro Cover the seven clamps above the sloppy (sealed) strip in 1:22.47.
Victory is heralded by the score of the half-brother, Emirates Road (via Quality Sugar ), who won her second race of the day, the special maiden weight class at the Lexington track. Both are out Ghostzapper mare Enrich , is currently the producer of three equity winners. Enrichment is the daughter of Sahara Gold, who won 2nd place at Keeneland in 2000 for Robert McNair’s Stonerside Stable.
Popularity, 2nd choice 5-2, is a Commonwealth 1/2 length winner over 45-1 outsiders Long Range Toddy .
“It’s a really good horse,” said runner-up trainer Dallas Stewart. “He ran his last few races at (Oaklawn Park) and I really feel like he doesn’t like Oaklawn. He’d liked it before, but not like it.
“He has new owners (Redha Al Tajer, Faisal Chunawaka, Kanwal Sandeep, and Mohammed Ali Farooq’s Zenith Racing) —Willis Horton sold him. I told them, get him out of Oaklawn and find a place and he’ll be fine. He showed up today.”
Nashville quickly exited the gate under the lead of Luis Saez and crossed the quarter-mile opening at: 22.12 while being chased by Prevalence and Long Range Toddy. They are still in the trio to a half in: 44.61. Nashville soon relinquished the lead while the winner came with a triple bid and the runner-up remained on the tracks. Long Range Toddy stalled O Besos for the second slot with a head. Monitoring early fourth person, keep that position on the rope.
Nashville is ready to give in and finish last out of 10.
Tyler Gaffalione was the winner on board for coach Brendan Walsh. The Bay received an extended break from its bid for sixth place in the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) and an eighth place finish in last spring’s Pat Day Mile by LG&E and KU (G2). ) presented at Churchill Downs. He gave birth to his 4-year-old on February 5 at Gulfstream Park with a fifth-place effort in seven cars, then excelled with a score of 4 3/4 length March 5 at one mile ahead of the runners claiming the allowance option in South Florida .
“Last time he ran really well,” Walsh said. “We gave him a break last year and he’s come back incredible. He’s physically amazing, as is everything else. He’s been training superbly and we hope he does. It’s been a tough field, but I think he’s impressed.
“We just gave him a little bit of time last year; there’s nothing wrong with him,” Walsh continued. “He got to a point where we had to step back and give him a chance. His brother, who won before – he had a similar deal last year that made us It took me a while to get him into the race. But they’ve shown that they’re worth the wait.”
The $174,375 wallet in first place pushed Prevalence’s earnings to $288,225. He has four wins in seven starts.
Enrichment has an unnamed 2-year-old pony do Frosted and a Uncle Mo yearning pony. She was bred with Medaglia d’Oro for the year 2022.
Video: Commonwealth of S. (G3)
