Bobby Abu Dhabi earns first stakes win in Kona Gold

ARCADIA, Calif. – The versatility of Bobby Abu Dhabi makes race riding easier for jockey Victor Espinoza.

The 4-year-old Bobby Abu Dhabi has shown the ability to lead or stalk the pace in recent starts. He was a game second in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on March 10 after setting the pace under Espinoza.

Saturday at the same venue, Bobby Abu Dhabi won the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs after racing as a stalker for the first half-mile.

Bobby Abu Dhabi took the lead in early stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Ransom the Moon, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July.

Bobby Abu Dhabi ($7.20) was timed in 1:15.40 and won his first stakes in the Kona Gold. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103, which equals his career best.

“He’s a kind horse to ride,” Espinoza said. “He doesn’t have to go one way. He can go to the front or behind. I can ride with a lot of confidence.

“The last two times he showed a lot more speed. He’s getting good.”

Bobby Abu Dhabi was always prominent in the $196,345 Kona Gold Stakes. After a clean break, Bobby Abu Dhabi stalked stablemate Calculator through early fractions of 22.15 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.60 for a half-mile.

Bobby Abu Dhabi took the lead in early stretch after skimming the inside path. He was not fully extended at the wire.

“I kind of eased him up at the end,” Espinoza said. “We broke sharp. I didn’t want to go head-and-head.”

Ransom the Moon, the 7-5 favorite, closed from third to finish second in his first start since a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November.

Blameitonthelaw finished third, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, and was a length clear of Calculator. Ten Blessings, third in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in December 2016, was pulled up on the turn and was vanned off.

Bobby Abu Dhabi and Calculator are trained by Peter Miller. Bobby Abu Dhabi, by Macho Uno, has won 4 of 8 starts and earned $345,100 for Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen. Earlier in his career, Bobby Abu Dhabi was second in the San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in April 2017.