Prat brings home 41-1 longshot Neveradoubt in Snow Chief

ARCADIA, Calif. - Neveradoubt gave jockey Flavien Prat his richest win in the United States with a shocking victory in Saturday‘s $200,750 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds on turf at Santa Anita.

Neveradoubt ($85.40) closed from ninth in a field of 11 with a relatively clean trip to win by a half-length over 29-1 Temple Keys. Neveradoubt was the third-longest shot in the field. The $1 exacta for the first two paid $702.60.

Neveradoubt ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:51.26.

Neveradoubt raced on the rail for the first six furlongs before Prat guided the colt outside of tiring rivals on the turn. With a wide rally, Neveradoubt was within 1 1/2 lengths of stretch leader Zinvor with a furlong to go and took the lead in the final sixteenth.

Grazen Sky, the winner of the Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields on April 26, finished third, followed by Cardiac, Zinvor, Over Par, Chief of Staff, Book Thirty Four, Rocko’s Wheel, Pulmarack, and Richard’s Boy.

Rafael Bejarano, who rode Grazen Sky, lodged a claim of foul against Neveradoubt, alleging interference on the turn. The stewards disallowed the claim.

Prat, a 22-year-old native of France, won two Grade 3 races worth $100,750 at Santa Anita earlier this month. Prat has been a regular rider in California since December. In past winters, he has ridden on this circuit before returning to France in the spring.

Prat said Neveradoubt benefited from a quick early pace set by Richard’s Boy - 22.67 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.93 seconds for a half-mile.

“The pace helped him a lot,” Prat said. “I was pretty confident.”

Prat said he needed to urge Neveradoubt in the final furlong to stay focused.

“He’s not the sort to win by two or three lengths,” he said.

Neveradoubt made his fourth start in the Snow Chief. Trained by Mike Puype for the partnership of SLO Racing Stable, Tom Hudson, and Tony Narducci, Neveradoubt beat maidens in his debut at Del Mar last November. Earlier this year, Neveradoubt was fifth in the California Cup Derby and seventh in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course, his first start on grass.

Neveradoubt has earned $252,350. The colt is by Decarchy, who stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, Calif. Hudson is the manager of Magali Farms.

Temple Keys, trained by Tom Proctor, ran his best race in the Snow Chief in his eighth career start. He was sixth in the Silky Sullivan Stakes.

“He trained well and we expected him to run big,” said Aimee Dollase, assistant to Proctor. “He’s got ability. It’s the matter of getting the right setup. He’s maturing. He’s learning.”