Pioneerof the Nile Gets the
Job Done in the San Felipe

March 7, 2009
By Profitus Maximus

Pioneerof the Nile extended his winning streak to three by taking the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, winning by 1 ¼ lengths over runner up Feisty Suances.

Sent off as the heavy 1-5 favorite, Pioneerof the Nile did not win quite as easily as some of his backers apparently expected.

Breaking from the 2 post, he got away cleanly and settled several lengths off the leaders turning into onto the backstretch. New Bay strode away and led the field by 2-3 lengths as eventual runner up Feisty Suances enjoyed a good spot in second.

The early pace was relatively soft, and jockey Garret Gomez, perhaps sensing this, began to move the favorite closer past the 5/16ths pole and was on the leaders heels by the half mile marker.

Turning into the stretch, Pioneerof the Nile got the lead by a length but had to call on all of his class to hold runner up Feisty Suances, and third place finisher Jeranimo at bay.

The final time was 143.35 and he did come home in a decent final 1/16 of a mile, but certainly did not run like a 1-5 favorite. Nevertheless, he got the job done in workmanlike fashion, and retained his standing as one of the top five 2009 Kentucky Derby prospects.

His Beyer Speed Figure for the race was a modest 90. Pioneerof the Nile is expected to make his next start in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4, 2009 where the level of competition will increase dramatically, and in which he will have to get by another of the top Kentucky Derby hopes, The Pamplemousse.