Wake Up Nick's unbeaten streak hits five in Barretts Juvenile

CYPRESS, Calif. – Wake Up Nick might not be the best 2-year-old in North America, but after winning the $103,900 Barretts Juvenile on Sunday at Los Alamitos, he has won more races (five) than any juvenile on the continent.

Wake Up Nick is 5 for 5 after taking the 6 1/2-furlong race by 2 3/4 lengths over Rowdy Dylan.

The race was not pretty. Rowdy Dylan threw a fit behind the gate, and unseated jockey Edwin Maldonado. Rowdy Dylan was corralled and reloaded, during which time favoritism switched from Rowdy Dylan to Wake Up Nick.

Wake Up Nick ($4.20) overcame trouble. Not quick, he raced inside, and got shuffled out of position on the turn. After his mount dropped back to seventh on the turn, jockey Elvis Trujillo stayed busy, Wake Up Nick split horses in the lane, and rallied to win in 1:17.60.

The victory gave trainer Doug O’Neill a sweep of the weekend stakes at Los Alamitos. He won the Barretts Debutante on Saturday with Sharla Rae.

Wake Up Nick is owned by Paul Reddam, who said the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita would be the next start for the son of Cindago. Wake Up Nick's previous stakes wins were the Santa Anita Juvenile, and two statebred stakes at Del Mar - the Graduation and I'm Smokin. He has earned $308,784.

Rowdy Dylan, after misbehaving behind the gate, raced midpack and finished in the middle of the track to somehow salvage second.

Completing the order of finish was third-place Top Drawer, followed in order by Zendai, Colorado Strong, Peradventure, Doc Charney, and Matty’s Tribal.

Only two other North American-based 2-year-olds have won four races. Conquest Tsunami won four at Woodbine; Trackattacker won four at Emerald Downs.