Wake Up Nick continues to set standard with Juvenile win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Whether he is setting a track record in his debut or winning stakes in his second start, Wake Up Nick is setting the standard for 2-year-old males in Southern California this year.

On May 1, Wake Up Nick zoomed 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.22 seconds, setting a track record. On Saturday, he was equally brilliant, winning his stakes debut in the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile over 5 1/2 furlongs.

While the time of 1:04.28 was well off the 1999 track record of 1:01.74 set by the mighty Kona Gold, Wake Up Nick will be a 2-year-old to follow at Del Mar this summer following his Santa Anita campaign. Wake Up Nick paid $10.80 as the fourth choice in a field of six in the Santa Anita Juvenile.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Wake Up Nick was second to Kristi’s Copilot, who set fractions of 21.98 and 45 flat. Wake Up Nick trailed by a length on the turn but advanced through the stretch to race a head behind Kristi’s Copilot with a furlong remaining.

In the last sixteenth, Wake Up Nick pulled clear and held off a late threat from Story to Tell to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He showed what he’s capable of doing,” said winning trainer Doug O’Neill. “Though it was a short field, it was competitive.”

Story to Tell finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of the promising first-time starter Homer Matt. Henry’s Holiday finished fourth, followed by Kristi’s Copilot and Holiday Camp, the even-money favorite.

Story to Tell was as far back as fifth on the turn and closed with interest after breaking from post 2.

“The post didn’t help and probably made a difference,” said Dan Hendricks, who trains Story to Tell. “I think was I was finishing the best of all. The winner ran super, but I wouldn’t trade places.”

Wake Up Nick races for Paul and Zillah Reddam. A California-bred colt by Cindago, Wake Up Nick has earned $108,600. Wake Up Nick was purchased for $35,000 at the Barretts March Sale of selected 2-year-olds in training earlier this year.