California invader Ginobili lived up to his billing as the 9-5 favorite and drew off to an impressive four-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park before an on-track crowd of 17,500.
Ginobili broke well under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. and moved into second behind pacesetter Dreamer's Disease, who set fractions of :23.23 and :46.53 for the first half mile. The winner moved to the front without being asked midway around the final turn and from there the only battle was for second.
Runnin' Ray, who at one point dropped back to sixth, got up for second, finishing a neck in front of 2022 Fifth Season winner Rated R Superstar, who closed from last and came wide to get third in his 10-year-old debut. The winning time for the one-mile race was 1:37.35 over a fast track.
Ginobili, a 6-year-old Munnings gelding out of the Sharp Humor mare Find the Humor, is trained by Peter Miller. He improved his record to 4-3-1 in 17 starts, which includes a victory in the 2021 Pat O'Brien (G2) prior to a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), both at Del Mar. He has earned $561,050 for owners Slam Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig.
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, which sold him to Richard Baltas for $35,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale, Ginobili returned $5.80 to win as the strong favorite.
Fifth Season Stakes Quotes:
Winning jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.: “The only thing I can say: Anybody could have won on that horse today, how he was training in the morning. He was training impressively, and I was excited to see him come back from a layoff. First race of the year. I can't wait for what's next for that horse.”
Winning trainer Peter Miller: “He sat off that speed horse (Dreamer's Disease), kind of a longshot, and just pushed the button when he (Ricardo Santana Jr.) thought it was time. There's a very good chance that he'll stay there, but we'll talk to the owners and see how he pulls up and kind of make a plan from there.”
Winning owner Nick Cosato: “There's nothing wrong with leaving gas in the tank, right? So, if he has a little more gas, it will only help us down the line.”
Jockey Martin Garcia, second on Runnin' Ray: “He tries his best all the time. He never disappoints anybody. I thought today was a tough race because the winner is a really good horse.”
The post ‘Anybody Could Have Won On This Horse Today’: Favorite Ginobili Easy Victor In Oaklawn’s Fifth Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
