From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2015)–Longshot Neveradoubt unleashed a furious stretch rally under Flavien Prat to take Saturday’s $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes by a half length while covering 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:51.26. Trained by Mike Puype, bred by Janis Whitman and owned by SLO Racing Stable, Tom Hudson and Tony Narducci, the 3-year-old colt by Decarchy lagged early and angled five wide turning for home in what was only his fourth career start. (Run as Santa Anita’s eighth race, the Snow Chief is part of the Golden State Series, which is restricted to horses bred or sired in California).
Off at 41-1 in a field of eleven 3-year-olds, Neveradoubt paid $85.40, $30.60 and $13.40. A first-out maiden winner going 6 ½ furlongs versus statebreds Nov. 16 at Del Mar, Neveradoubt got his second win and with top prize money of $110,000, hiked his bankroll to $151,350.
“Puype was pretty confident before the race,” said Prat. “I didn’t know this horse but the pace helped him a lot and the track was little bit soft and that helped as well. The pace was pretty fast so that’s good when you’re behind (ninth past the five furlong pole). He doesn’t look like he’s got a turn of foot, but he’s got one pace. I didn’t think I would win, but I thought we would be close, third or second…He won pretty easy today.”
“Flavien rode a great race and saved a lot of ground,” said Puype. “Tom Hudson, who manages the horse, wanted to go in the race. Tom said ‘He should go the distance. He’s doing good.’ But Flavien Prat rode the race and it was a great ride. We just took a shot he could cover the distance.”
Fellow longshot Temple Keys, who was last early under Drayden Van Dyke, followed the winner through the lane and finished second, a half length in front of Grazen Sky, who flew for the show. Off at 29-1, Temple Keys paid $22.20 and $11.20.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Grazen Sky, who was the second choice in the tote at 5-2, flew late for third money and paid $3.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.67, 46.93, 1:12.36 and 1:38.47.