Bettor Trip Nick First Black-Type Winner for Boat Trip

Bettor Trip Nick became the first black-type winner for California stallion Boat Trip when the 2-year-old gelding went gate-to-wire in the $63,800 Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Bred in California by Running Horse Equine Training Center out of the In Excess mare Bettor Knot, Bettor Trip Nick races for trainer William J. Delia, who co-owns the gelding with Gary Oetman and Ray Pagano. 

15-1 Bettor Trip Nick broke running in the six-furlong race on the all weather track at Golden Gate, and opened a clear lead to set the pace under jockey Catalino Martinez. He set fractions of :21.53, :44.30, and :56.44 before holding off the late run of Doc Tommy to win by half-length over five rivals in a final time of 1:09.35. Fore Left was third.

Boat Trip, a 10-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, was trained by Michael Pender for owners James Hirschmann III and B.J. Wright. He won five races from 22 starts while racing from 2 to 6, was graded stakes-placed, and was a winner of two stakes at Hollywood Park.

Bettor Trip Nick was also Boat Trip's first starter, and became the stallion's first winner when he broke his maiden Aug. 23 upon debut at Golden Gate. Boat Trip stood the 2019 season at Special T Thoroughbreds for an advertised fee of $2,500.