Notional's BC Qualifier at Monmouth
Presious Passion Also Qualifies for BC with United Nations Turf Win
A race for older horses, the $300,000 Salvator (dirt) Mile Handicap, grade III, at New Jersey's Monmouth Park at Oceanport is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships challenge that gives the winner an automatic position in the corresponding fall event.
Notional, a major 2007 early contender for the Kentucky Derby, suffered a fracture on April 14 last year during a Keeneland (Polytrack) Race Course workout in preparation for the Derby. The injury ended his season.
Notional is Back to Winning Form
Notional is back. The bay colt, now a 4-year-old, is a son of In Excess, out of Truly Blessed, by French Deputy. He won the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita and the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, Louisiana, last year, then raced a strong second in the Florida Derby before the cannon bone break.
Notional had been ranked No. 9 on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association list.
He entered the Salvator Stakes exiting from several uneventful California turf and artificial surface races under trainer Doug O'Neill. Owner J. Paul Reddam wanted a change for Notional, who didn't seem happy in his California track atmosphere, and Reddam sent the colt to trainer Mark Hennig in New York six weeks ago.
O'Neill and Hennig consulted for the benefit of Notional, deciding to return him to dirt contests.
Notional Catches Gottcha Gold in Stretch
Joe Bravo got the maximum effort from Notional as the colt beat Gottcha Gold, the Salvator's favorite from a win in the Pimlico Special; second choice Indy Wind, June victor of the Frisk Me Now Stakes; and Honest Man, the third choice entering from a Delaware Park allowance win.
Eddie Castro took Gottcha Gold quickly to a 3-1/2 length lead, while Notional was steady in fifth place, and longshot Better Than Bonds led the field behind Gottcha Gold. Better Than Bonds gave out after six furlongs.
Bravo asked Notional, and the colt drove forward spiritedly, robbing Gottcha Gold of the lead after jumping the gap between them at the far turn and rushing past the leader at the 1/16 pole. Notional flew to the wire, capturing a 2-1/4 length win in time of 1:35.84.
Honest Man raced to third, 2-1/4 lengths behind Gottcha Gold.
Presious Passion Wins Monmouth Headliner
The headliner on the Monmouth challenge day card was the 1-1/8 miles, $750,000 United Nations Stakes, grade I, won by Presious Passion in a duel to the wire over Strike A Deal. The win on the turf course qualified Presious Passion for the Breeders' Cup Turf in October.
The race's favorite, Champs Elysees, could not challenge, finishing the contest in sixth. Equitable, with Kent Desormeaux up, went third, 1-1/4 lengths behind the leaders.
