Nimitz Class After Sixth Straight Win in Salvator Mile

Since late December, Nimitz Class  has been unbeatable, winning five consecutive races, four times in stakes at Laurel Park, in Maryland and most recently in a May 22 allowance at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania.

Now he will look to continue his winning streak when he races at Monmouth Park for the first time in the $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3)—a race that often propels starters into the $400,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) on Haskell Stakes Day, July 22. At 1 1/8 miles, the Monmouth Cup is a furlong longer than the Salvator Mile.

Nimitz Class, a 4-year-old son of Munnings  , has been successful at both distances, with a graded stakes score being the only type of victory absent from his 10-for-16 record for owner Tom Coulter and trainer Bruce Kravets.

During his current win streak, the Pennsylvania-bred has posted Equibase Speed Figures ranging from a 105 in his last start to a 118 in the Feb. 18 John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park four races ago.

Regular rider Jevian Toledo is in from Maryland for the mount on the colt, who is drawn in post 8.

PA Bred Nimitz Class was super fun to watch today! What a horse!! @JevianToledo fits him perfectly pic.twitter.com/4lgKaDn4Ie

— Dani Gibson (@DanielleGibso15) May 22, 2023

Nimitz Class could also provide the 67-year-old Kravets, a trainer since 1977, with his first graded stakes win. Through June 14, he has started 23,375 horses, winning 3,756 races from his base in Pennsylvania.

"It would mean the world to me to win this race," said Kravets. "I've been at Penn National since 1979. I've had a lot of good horses but I've never had a horse like this. It's exciting.

"It was exciting to win four straight stakes races at Laurel. But to win this race would be something special."

Kravets has not had many opportunities to run in graded stakes, having a modest stable.

"When you're at Penn National you know what to expect with what people send you," said Kravets. "They're not giving you stakes horses or allowance horses. I'm used to the cheap claimers. So to have a horse like this means a lot to me."

According to Kravets, routing Nimitz Class and racing him with blinkers has been instrumental in the horse's success.

"Everything together has led to him being this good now—getting mature, blinkers, and definitely running longer. His first couple of starts I sprinted him and he did win going three-quarters of a mile. But that's not him. He's a big horse with a big stride. He just wants to do his own thing."

Other notable entries include the rail-draw Petulante , a winner of two straight; stakes-winning Octane ; and comebacking graded stakes winner Ridin With Biden . Along with Far Mo Power , Ridin With Biden is cross-entered in a June 18 allowance at Parx.