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Back in March of this year, the connections for the horse Saint Prado were pointing the horse to the Kentucky Derby with a fair amount of confidence.
But following seventh-place finish in the Sunland Derby, trainer Jeff Bonde had a talk with jockey Rafael Bejarano about Saint Prado’s future.
“He told me to run the horse at ¾-mile (six furlongs) and he would love to ride the horse,” said Bonde.
Bonde still held out for a couple of longer races, but following seventh and fifth place efforts it was time to return Saint Prado to the sprints.
Sunday at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Saint Prado showed he is happiest sprinting as he charged down the lane to win the $50,000 Livermore Valley Wine Stakes at six furlongs.
“This is my hometown and I decided I wanted to take a shot,” said Bonde. “And Bejarano was right.”
On paper it was a race that figured to have some good early speed which would mean it was there for a stalker to take.
“I knew I just needed to sit second or third and be patient,” said jockey Frank Alvarado.
That is just what Alvarado did through the first half of the race, sitting off the pace of first Los Tres Bohemios, and then Southern California shipper South Floyd, biding his time. By the time the horses hit the top of the lane, Saint Prado had taken the lead and now had to worry about the other closer, Outside Nashville.
“I knew Russell was coming,” Alvarado said of Outside Nashville jockey Russell Baze. “But the wire came up just when I needed it.”
Outside Nashville finished a length back in second and Our Cognac Kid was four more lengths back in third.
“We just needed to sit behind the burners and it all worked out well,” said Bonde.
Phil Lebherz owns the other half of Saint Prado with Bonde who now has two wins in seven career starts.
