Nolde Surges to Del Mar Derby Win

[Wandering Eyes]

Nolde (Pioneerof the Nile, who was nosed out of the win when second over the Del Mar lawn in the July 17 Oceanside S., got the better of the photo finish Sunday to win the GII Del Mar Derby. The 6-1 shot settled well off the pace as Kingly (Tapit) sprinted out to a clear lead. Kingly was in front and racing keenly through fractions of :23.44 and :47.80, but his advantage evaporated when Neptune’s Storm strode to the lead without prompting at the top of the lane. Kingly tried valiantly to battle back along the rail, but it was Nolde finding a seam between the two foes late and charging to the lead. Originaire closed stoutly down the center of the course to nip Neptune’s Storm for second.

“Sometimes when you get on this horse, he’s nice and easy going. Not today,” said winning jockey Victor Espinoza. “He was strong; like a bull. I like that. He was telling me he was ready. When we ran last time, I knew he ran a good race, but I knew he’d be better next time. He’s got a long stride and distance is going to be good for him. He’s not an easy horse to ride, but he’s got a lot of talent. We’ve just got to figure out a way to bring it out. When I sent him inside today, he just went. He was ready.”

Nolde made the first four starts of his career on the main track, but moved to the lawn to graduate in his fifth outing going one mile at Santa Anita May 3. He added a June 21 optional claimer at that same distance in Arcadia and was caught late while making his stakes debut in the Oceanside. He was making his first start beyond a mile in the Del Mar Derby.

“The Oceanside prepared him nicely for this, which was the plan,” said winning trainer John Shirreffs. “We were very happy with the way the horse trained for the race. Victor has ridden him a number of times and really knows the horse. He got him settled in a nice position and Nolde has a really nice turn of foot.”

Pedigree Notes:
Nolde is out of the Moss homebred Sister Moon, who RNA’d for $57,000 at the 2011 OBS April sale and was second the Anoakia S. and who set a 5 1/2-furlong track record at Del Mar that year. The dark bay was runner-up the following year in the GIII Railbird S. She produced a filly by Empire Maker in 2018 and a colt by Quality Road this year before being bred back to City of Light.

The Mosses purchased Nolde’s second dam Shimmer for $210,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and she was a two-time winner in their colors for John Shirreffs in 2005. She sold, in foal to Union Rags, for $140,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale.

The winner’s third dam, graded-stakes winner Private Light, also produced graded-stakes placed Sailor’s Warning (Storm Cat) and graded winner Cielo Gold (Conquistador Cielo).

Sunday, Del Mar
DEL MAR DERBY-GII, $251,404, Del Mar, 9-1, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.98, fm.
1–NOLDE, 122, c, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
                1st Dam: Sister Moon (GSP, $107,350), by Dixie Union
                2nd Dam: Shimmer, by Pulpit
                3rd Dam: Private Light, by Private Account
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Jerome
Moss (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs; J-Victor Espinoza. $150,000.
Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-1, $270,470. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click
   for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Originaire (Ire), 122, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Polly Perkins (Ire), by
Pivotal (GB). (€50,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR; 70,000gns 3yo ’19
TATFEB). O-BG Stables; B-Vimal and Gillian Khosla (IRE); T-Jeff
Mullins. $50,000.
3–Neptune’s Storm, 122, g, 3, Stormy Atlantic–Immortal Life
(Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). ($50,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg ’17
KEESEP; $130,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR). O-CYBT, Gevertz, Saul,
Gitomer, Lynn, Goetz, Mike, Nentwig, Michael and Weiner,
Daniel; B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $30,000.
Margins: NK, HD, NK. Odds: 6.60, 6.30, 2.40.
Also Ran: Hackberry, Kingly, Moody Jim (Ire), Nolo Contesto, Visitant, Parsimony. Scratched: Walker Stalker. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

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