NEWS
Nownownow halts skid with win in San Fernando
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:44 PM
by Jeff Apel
Nownownow, winner of the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, gained command near midstretch and posted a 2 3/4-length win in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park to halt a six-race winless stretch.
Nownownow entered the San Fernando Stakes winless since concluding his two-year-old campaign in 2007 with a half-length win in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Whywhywhy colt made his second start since rejoining trainer Patrick Biancone’s barn in the San Fernando Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for four-year-olds.
Biancone previously trained Nownownow for the colt’s first four career starts. With Biancone serving a suspension, Francois Parisel was the colt’s trainer for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
David Wachman and Jason Orman also previously trained Nownownow, a Fab Oak Stable homebred who rallied from ninth in a field of 11 to win the San Fernando Stakes under Joe Talamo.
“There was a lot of speed in the race and Pat [Biancone] said to be patient,” Talamo said. “I was able to stay on the rail and it opened up for me there at the top of the stretch.”
Muny set a determined pace and led Booted by a half-length on the backstretch. Nownownow, sent off at odds of 18.20-to-1, was angled in at the start and raced in ninth through a quarter-mile in :23.13 and half-mile in :47.12.
Nownownow moved up near the inside rail and was positioned in sixth through six furlongs in 1:11.36. After being angled out, Nownownow powered past four foes and raced in second in early stretch, 1 1/2 lengths behind Wishful Tomcat.
Quickly seizing command under urging, Nownownow drew clear in the closing strides to win in 1:41.45 on a synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
Stakes winner Dakota Phone finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Wishful Tomcat. Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Slew’s Tiznow, the 1.90-to-1 favorite, finished fourth.
Nownownow earned his third win in 13 starts and increased his earnings to $775,599. Bred in Kentucky, Nownownow is one of three winners from six starters out of the winning Exit to Nowhere mare Here and Now (Fr).
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
