None Above the Law surprises in Del Mar Derby
DEL MAR, Calif. - Whether it was a lucrative dirt sprint for California-bred 3-year-olds in late July or Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, None Above the Law has been full of surprises this summer.
None Above the Law won the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs on July 30 in a 10-1 upset for his third stakes win of the year. In Saturday's $254,000 Del Mar Derby, None Above the Law was sent off at the same price and produced the same result.
The win on Saturday was courtesy of a ground-saving trip from jockey Joe Bravo. None Above the Law had sufficient racing room in early stretch in a field of 13 to reach the front in the final furlong.
“He was push-button,” Bravo said.
None Above the Law ($23) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.97, winning the longest race of his career. None Above the Law earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
Bravo thinks None Above the Law can be effective at longer distances.
“He’s begging for more ground,” he said.
None Above the Law stalked pacesetter Hockey Dad, who set fractions of 23.80 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48 for a half-mile. In the final furlong, Hockey Dad led narrowly over Flashiest and Crew Dragon, but None Above the Law had the best rally.
None Above the Law finished three-quarters of a length in front of 14-1 Flashiest, who was a head in front of 8-1 Hockey Dad. Cathkin Peak finished fourth, followed by Lincoln Hawk, Zoffarelli, Sword Zorro, Barraza, Hudson Ridge, No Foolery Here, Petruchio, Crew Dragon, and Jimmy Blue Jeans.
Hudson Ridge, the 9-5 favorite, started from the rail and was beaten approximately three lengths under jockey Flavien Prat.
“My post hurt me quite a bit,” Prat said. “I couldn’t get him to relax.”
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None Above the Law, by Karakontie, races for Kirk and Judy Robison’s Downstream Racing stable and trainer Peter Miller.
The Del Mar Derby was None Above the Law’s third start of the Del Mar summer meeting. On the July 16 opening day program, None Above the Law finished ninth by three lengths behind Flashiest in the $103,500 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds.
A winner of 6 of 14 starts, None Above the Law has earned $454,060. In the spring at Golden Gate Fields, None Above the Law won consecutive starts in $77,250 stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile in the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebreds on the synthetic track and the Alcatraz Stakes on turf against open company.