Galilean breaks dry spell in Soi Phet Stakes

Galilean, who was part of the Triple Crown preps at Oaklawn Park in 2019, won his first stakes in 16 months in Saturday’s $101,500 Soi Phet Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos.

Galilean was ridden by Juan Hernandez, who won a stakes in Southern California for the first time since the autumn meeting at Del Mar in 2015. Hernandez, the leading rider at the Golden Gate Fields meeting that ended earlier this month, has relocated to Southern California this summer.

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Galilean ($4) closed from fourth in a field of eight to win the Soi Phet by four lengths, running a mile in 1:35.49. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

“I had a good position outside,” Hernandez said. “He did it pretty much by himself. I was in a stalking position. When I asked him at the quarter pole, he responded really well.”

Galilean took the lead in early stretch and led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Galilean drifted to the inside in the final furlong when clear.

“He lugged in a little bit in the stretch,” Hernandez said. “That’s a really nice horse.”

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Grinning Tiger, the winner of the Crystal Water Stakes for statebred turf milers at Santa Anita at 92-1 on June 6, finished second at 12-1, a head in front of 18-1 Brandothebartender, who stumbled at the start.

Loud Mouth finished fourth, followed by King Abner, Take the One O One, Lymebyrd, and Three Ay Em.

Galilean, a 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, races for West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook and Coolmore. Galilean has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $482,484.

The Soi Phet Stakes was Galilean’s first win for trainer John Sadler, who has had the colt in his stable since last fall.

Galilean was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for his first six starts, which included three stakes wins for statebreds in 2018 and early 2019. Galilean was third in a division of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and fifth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on the Triple Crown trail in the spring of 2019.

Galilean was purchased for $600,000 at the 2018 Barretts 2-year-olds in training sale at Del Mar, the most expensive horse at that auction.