Galilean steps forward with King Glorious victory

CYPRESS, Calif. - Galilean may be outgrowing the California-bred division.

On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Galilean was the easy winner of the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for statebreds at a mile, leaving trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to contemplate the colt’s campaign for early 2019. There is a possibility Galilean could start in a graded stakes in his next start, although there are options within the statebred division at Santa Anita.

“We’ll take a good look at a lot of different things,” Hollendorfer said in the winner’s circle. “The fact he can route makes a big difference.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Galilean won the King Glorious Stakes from the front by nine lengths in 1:35.06. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88. Galilean set soft fractions of 23.92 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.35 for a half-mile. Our Silver Oak, trained by William Morey, was second throughout and was within a length of Galilean with a quarter-mile to go before Galilean pulled clear rapidly.

“I thought Billy’s horse tried, but he couldn’t keep up,” Hollendorfer said.

Our Silver Oak held second, finishing three lengths clear of Feeling Strong, who was followed by Tivan, Principe Carlo, and Its Five Somewhere. Poppy’s C Note was withdrawn on Sunday morning.

Galilean, by Uncle Mo, races for West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, and William Sandbrook and was purchased for $600,000 at the Barretts Sale of 2-year-olds in-training at Del Mar last April as the leading hip at the auction.

Galilean won his debut in the Barretts Juvenile Stakes here in September and was a game second to Cruel Intention in the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. Galilean has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $151,000.