For Immediate Release:
Monday, September 1, 2008
215.639.9000 ext. 3290 or 3329
Contact: Keith Jones, Announcer – Philadelphia Park @ kjones@philadelphiapark.com
Locals get a win in the Turf Monster
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Four Roses Thoroughbred’s Anak Nakal rallied through traffic from the back of the 13
horse field, caught leader Acai nearing the wire, and went on to win the $1 million GII
Pennsylvania Derby by a neck. It was the first win as a three year-old for the son Victory
Gallop and pushed his lifetime earnings to just under $1 million. Trainer Nick Zito wonthe PA Derby for the secondtime now in three years, winning in 2005 with Sun King,
and the win gave jockey Joe Bravo his third PA Derby win. In the 29 year history of the
race, no other jockey has even won two.
Even in a wide open race, without a victory in 2008, Anak Nakal saw little play at the
mutuel windows, dismissed as a 16-1 outsider, despite the Hall of Fame trainer’s
propensity to have his horses ready for the big race. A stone cold late runner, Anak Nakal
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10th as the field made its way to the backstretch. “We knew we weren’t going to be
involved early,” said Bravo, “so we just kind of let the others run their race.” With a
bulky field, late runners can face traffic issues, but Bravo did a masterful job of
negotiating his way through horses up the backstretch run without losing any ground. By
the time the real running started on the far turn, Bravo had his horse up into sixth and was
now within striking range with three furlongs to run.
At this point, Acai, who had been racing outside in the second flight of horses made a run
to get by the tiring leaders Wishful Tomcat and Two Step Salsa, but he got challenged
immediately by race favorite Smooth Air. On even terms at the quarter pole, Acai had
inside position turning for home, cut the corner at the head of the stretch, and began to
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from the Ohio Derby winner. Bravo had Anak Nakal in gear now, but with an
eighth of a mile to go, still had about three lengths to make up. With great determination,
he took aim, ran down his foe, and won himself the winner’s share of the million dollar
prize.
Considering the lack of form Anak Nakal had shown through his 2008 campaign, it was
no surprise that he went post ward as a long shot. Where did the big race come from? “He
showed great promise as a two year-old,” remarked assistant trainer Tim Poole. “Even
so, each horse is different and that transition from two to three takes a little longer for
some horses.”
“The one time I rode him in the past,” said Bravo, “he lacked a little bit of focus. He
didn’t seem to concentrate that well. Well, Mr. Zito obviously got that figured out and he
ran like a champ today.”Off at 16-1, only three horses in the 13 horse field had higher odds, Anak Nakal returned
$34.60, 15.00, and 8.60. Acai (9-1 as part of the mutuel field) ran the race of his life only
to get beat at the wire and paid 10.40 and 6.20. Smooth Air, the slight 4-1 favorite,
leveled off through the last furlong and finished third, paying 4.60 to show. The final
time for the mile and an eighth over a track labeled fast was 1:48.99.
The supporting feature on the program was the $250,000 Turf Monster Handicap, a five
furlong turf sprint for three year-olds and up. Ben Mondello & Adam Russo’s True to
Tradition broke in front of the 10 horse field, remained right with the pace throughout,
and then pulled away in the stretch for a thoroughly convincing four length victory. It
was a win for the home team as the 6 year-old gelded son of Rahy is trained by
Philadelphia Park’s leading trainer Scott Lake and was ridden to victory by the track’s
second leading rider Kendrick Carmouche. Expected to come from off the pace, a great
gate break resulted in a change of tactics. “He broke so sharp,” commented Carmouche,
“that I didn’t want to discourage him or give up the position I had already gained. I guess
it worked out okay.” Off at 5-1, True to Tradition paid $12.60 to win and finished the
five-eighths over a firm course in :56.17.
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