Speedy Wilson © Benoit Photo
Nick Alexander’s homebred pair of Speedy Wilson and Shea Brennan ran one-two Friday in the 38th edition of the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, a seven-panel spin for California-bred 3-year-olds.
Speedy Wilson, making his first start in nine months, ran the distance in 1:22.34 under jockey Armando Ayuso finishing a length and three quarters best of his stablemate. Shea Brennen, handled by Antonio Fresu, was a nose better than third-place finisher Drop Um, owned by Gray Farms.
Both colts are by Alexander’s stallion Tough Sunday, who is a son of the owner/breeder’s foundation stallion Grazen. Both are trained by Phil D’Amato.
Speedy Wilson paid $5.20 for $2 and earned a first prize of $85,500 from the gross purse of $150,500. It was his third victory in five starts and pushed his earnings to $241,650.
Racing is back on at Del Mar Saturday with a first post of 2 p.m. and a headline attraction in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.
ARMANDO AYUSO (Speedy Wilson, winner) – “He broke really well today. He was in a good position. I take him back just a little. Not to bolt in between horses. I was a little concerned after nine months, you know, how fit he’s going to be. But he did everything perfectly. Actually in the stretch I didn’t want to pass horses before the turn today because he’s the kind of horse, he’s thinking about it when he’s by himself. I’ve been working with him since we have been working half a mile. I mean he is just a good horse. He is more mature now as a 3-year-old. To be a Cal-bred, is unreal. Thank you Phil (D’Amato); thank you Nick (Alexander), they always support me. He’s a real good deal. He’s a horse you could do anything with; he can take turf, he can take dirt. I would love to see him go long. I feel like the longer he goes, the better he’s going to be.”
PHIL D’AMATO (Speedy Wilson, winner) – “He’s a real deal this horse. I can see him down the road competing in open company and two turns. He really wants to run all day. A great ride from Armando (Ayuso). Just didn’t get him stopped. He circled wide and once he found that full stride of his he wasn’t looking back. I’m happy for Nick (Alexander). He’s been a huge supporter of mine since I started training. Great to see him run one-two with his homebreds.”
FRACTIONS: :21.91 :44.52 1:09.75 1:22.34
The stakes win was the first of the meet for jockey Ayuso and his first in the Real Good Deal. He now has three stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the third of the meet for trainer D’Amato, but his first in the Real Good Deal.
The winning owner/breeder is Nick Alexander from Santa Ynez and Del Mar, CA.