Getting a perfect trip in third behind dueling pacesetters, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' California-homebred Stalking Shadow rallied in deep stretch to win Saturday's $100,000 California Derby over Jonathan Wong-trained stablemate Jimmy Irish at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.
The 3-year-old colt by Ministers Wild Cat, ridden by Evin Roman, covered 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic Tapeta surface in 1:45.22 and paid $16.20 to win.
Jimmy Irish held second with the John Shirreffs-trained Parnelli, the 4-5 favorite, third in the field of eight 3-year-olds.
Lost in Space, the second choice in the wagering, broke slowly from the inside post position, allowing Jimmy Irish to secure the lead and the rail under Armando Ayuso. Parnelli and jockey Edwin Maldonado were content to sit just off the leader through fractions of :23.73, :48.72 and 1:12.59 for the first six furlongs, then turned up the pressure on the turn for home, drawing up alongside the leader. Those two had at least six lengths on their closest pursuer, Stalking Shadow, who raced comfortably in third as the field straightened into the stretch.
Stalking Shadow fought off Parnelli and appeared to be home free with a sixteenth to run, the mile clocked in 1:38.59, but Stalking Shadow was gaining momentum and caught and passed Jimmy Irish in the final yards to win going away.
The victory was the first stakes win for Stalking Shadow and his fourth victory overall from nine starts. Runner-up Jimmy irish, owned by McShane Racing, was making just his second start, having graduated at first asking in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint at Golden Gate on April 4.
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