Rebalation catches Nardini at wire to take Bear Fan
Rebalation ($10.80), who began her 2021 campaign with a $12,500 claiming win after 16 months on the sidelines, came flying through the stretch to nip favored Nardini at the wire to capture the $78,600 Bear Fan at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Sitting well off dueling leaders Ima Happy Cat's and Hot Rageous' sizzling opening fractions of 21.63 and 44.26, Rebalation was guided wide by jockey Frank Alvarado to get a clear path through the stretch.
She was four wide passing the quarter pole and six wide in the stretch and was in the clear, although still not a factor.
Nardini, who had been stalking the leaders, took over the lead as Tip Top Gal and J and K Express, who was making only her second start, were also moving well. Nardini began to open on her rivals and was looking good, but Rebalation was gaining with every stride and seemed to have her measured.
Rebalation caught Nardini nearing the finish line, blowing past her to win the six-furlong race by one-half length in 1:09.62. Tip Top Gal, who had hit the board in her past five starts under Alvarado, was another 1 1/2 lengths back and a nose in front of J and K Express.
“She's a gamer,” said trainer Tim McCanna, who was concerned early when his other runner, speedy Daffodil Sweet, didn't break well, but there was still plenty of pace.
“Frank saved ground early, then did the old slingshot into the lane,” McCanna said. “I'd been wanting to stretch her out, but he kept telling me she was a late-running sprinter. She's similar to her dam (Reba Is Tops).”
After winning her 2021 debut, Rebalation had two wins and a second before failing to seriously challenge despite closing late in her last start in a five-furlong allowance race on the turf. Saturday's extra distance made the difference as she won her stakes debut.
The 5-year-old Acclamation mare, a homebred for the ownership group of Eric Schweiger, Gordy Jrnig, and Kenny Marshall, earned $45,000 for her fifth victory in 11 career starts raising her career total to $137,328.