HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Kentucky Derby stock of both Itsmyluckyday and Shanghai Bobby may have risen even higher on Saturday after Clearly Now, a distant third behind that pair in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, rallied to a 1 3/4-length victory over the 50-1 Singanothersong in the $150,000 Swale Stakes.
Forty Tales, the 4-5 favorite in the seven-furlong Swale, finished a non-threatening fifth in the Grade 3 dash.
Clearly Now stalked the pace to the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull before proving no match for Itsmyluckday and Shanghai Bobby. By holding on to be third, Clearly Now earned two Kentucky Derby qualifying points in his first start over conventional dirt.
With jockey Luis Saez aboard, Clearly Now settled in perfect striking position behind a contested pace set by Singanothersong and Tulira Castle. Singanothersong eventually won that battle but proved no match for the final surge of Clearly Now, who finished strongly down the center of the course to win going away.
Singanothersong held on gamely to finish second, a nose in front of Undrafted. Forty Tales raced wide turning for home and was never a factor.
Clearly Now, a son of Horse Greeley, is trained by Bryan Lynch for the Up Hill Stable. The winner covered seven furlongs in 1:23.19 and returned $16.
“The turn back in distance worked well,” said Lynch. “He bobbled a little at the start which may have been a blessing in disguise. Luis gave him a great ride, he didn’t rush him. Then he finished strong.”
Lynch said the $1 million Florida Derby on March 30 could be an option for Clearly Now’s next start.