Bill Crager and Paul Hondros’ Nakamura, a second-time starter by 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Animal Kingdom out of the Arch mare, I’m Always Hopeful, powered down the center of the stretch to reel in front-running Helicat and win Saturday’s fifth race at Laurel Park, a maiden special weight test for three-year-olds and up. See Video
Ridden by winter-spring meet-leading jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. for trainer Graham Motion, Nakamura ($5.60) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.78 over a firm Fort Marcy Turf Course in the $40,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up.
Goodluckjohnathan and Helicat dueled on the lead through fractions of :24.99, :49.86 and 1:12.99 and straightened for home together until Helicat edged clear in mid-stretch. Nakamura launched his bid on the outside around the far turn and steadily gained ground down the lane to win by a neck.
Nakamura was another successful OPTIMAL Mating for our long time client, The Elkstone Group LLC. Horses bred on OPTIMAL Matings typically will break their maidens in the first two races before they go on to be superior race horses.
Whether you are new to the game, experiencing more losses than wins or just looking for a new approach, we are confident that we can help you breed or buy a better racehorse. To find out more about OPTIMAL Matings and how they can help your program, download a complimentary copy of Clark Shepherd’s “Blind Luck Or Designed Luck?: How A Kentucky Derby Winner Was Bred” at: https://www.shepherdequineadvisers.com/free-report/
For inquiries or more information about Shepherd Equine Advisers, please contact Clark Shepherd at 859-321-6618, or by email at [email protected].