YANKEE BRAVO STAYS PERFECT WITH
IMPRESSIVE WIN IN CALIFORNIA DERBY
Keeping his record perfect and bolstering his reputation, Yankee Bravo scored an impressive victory in the $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
Yankee Bravo, trained by Irishman Paddy Gallagher and ridden by Alex Solis, surged from last in a field of 12 to win Northern California’s first Kentucky Derby prep by one length over Cafe Tortoni. Victory Pete finished third.
Yankee Bravo ran 1 1/16 miles on Golden Gate Fields’ Tapeta racing surface in 1:44.57 and paid $5.20 as the 8-to-5 favorite. Gallagher is obviously very high on the Kentucky-bred son of Yankee Gentleman.
“He’s nominated to the Triple Crown and to the Santa Anita Derby (on April 5),” said
Gallagher.
Yankee Bravo made his career debut in England last September and posted a six-length victory in a five-furlong sprint on the turf at Redcar. The smart win resulted in Yankee Bravo being purchased by the ownership group of Harlequin Ranches (Richard Bonnycastle), David Bienstock, Richard Duggan and Chuck Winner.
Yankee Bravo made his first start for his new owners in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 and won the one-mile turf contest by a half-length. Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, he proved he can win on a synthetic racetrack.
“I always wanted to try one of these new (synthetic) tracks, and this track is advertised as one that grass horses are able to handle,” said Gallagher.
Solis said Yankee Bravo handled the Tapeta well after he got a feel for the surface.
“He was a little agitated the first sixteenth (of a mile) with the stuff flying back at him, but after we went into the turn, he settled down,” said Solis. “At this point, my colt is a baby but he has a lot of class. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. He’s very special.”
Yankee Bravo provided Solis and Gallagher with their second victories in the California Derby. Solis won the feature in 1993 aboard Denmars Dream and Gallagher, as an assistant to trainer Bill Shoemaker, sent out Fine N’ Majestic to win the 1995 running. It was also the second California Derby win for Bienstock and Winner as they were part of the ownership team that campaigned Fine N’ Majestic.
Racing continues at Golden Gate Fields Monday. Post time is 12:45 p.m.