Petulante Victorious in Stakes Debut in Salvator Mile
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Photo: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Petulante defeats Nimitz Class in the Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park
Petulante was unraced in stakes before competing in the $155,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) June 17 at Monmouth Park, but his inexperience never showed in his race performance.
In just his sixth career start, he ran down the more-seasoned Nimitz Class , ending the latter's five-race win streak. In rallying from fourth to beat Nimitz Class by a half-length, the winner clocked a mile on a fast track in 1:36.88 under Luis Saez.
Trademark was two lengths behind runner-up Nimitz Class in third.
"He deserved this chance and he proved he was good enough to win a graded stakes," Saez said of Petulante.
Saez dismounted from the colt after the gallop out that followed the race. Led by one of his handlers, the 4-year-old Arrogate gray walked past the grandstand while cooling out.
Lugamo Racing Stable's Petulante paid $5.80 to win as the slight favorite over Nimitz Class in the field of eight. His win Saturday was his third in a row and fourth in six starts.
"He has been improving with every race. He has never had a bad race so I thought he was ready for a graded stakes," said trainer Victor Barboza.
Bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm out of the Uncle Mo mare Auntjenn , Petulante was a $40,000 purchase by owner Lugamo Racing Stable from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in 2021.