Kentucky-bred Nobals proved the quickest of the quick in the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. The multiple stakes winner utilized a ground-saving trip to defeat Big Invasion by a neck in the 16th running of the five-furlong turf fixture.
Owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC and trained by Larry Rivelli, Nobals covered the distance over a firm turf course in :55.15. Ridden by Gerardo Corrales, Nobals raced toward the back of the pack early in the 12-horse field. After saving ground through the turn, he slipped through along the rail in mid-stretch, drove clear in the final sixteenth, and held off a furious late rally from Big Invasion to secure the victory.
“Absolutely not (how I drew it up),” said Rivelli. “Stuff happens in these types of races, and I think the jock made the difference today. He rode the horse perfectly and stayed inside and the gap came, and he was gone. I’m a third-generation trainer and we’ve been doing this forever. I’m happy for the connections—Vince Foglia, my buddy—and all my owners and friends and staff and family. It’s nice.”
Nobals is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Noble Mission (GB) out of the Empire Maker mare Pearly Blue. The first-place prize of $520,000 increased Nobals’ bankroll to $1,453,274, and the win improved his overall record to 18-10-3-0. In addition to the Turf Sprint, Nobals annexed the Turf Sprint S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in May and the Da Hoss S. at Colonial Downs in September. He also finished second in the Troy S. (G2) at Saratoga over the summer.
A graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2020, Nobals was bred in the Bluegrass by Dr. John A. Chandler.