No Jet Lag rallies energetically in City of Hope; Obviously fourth

No Jet Lag shows late energy in City of Hope; Obviously

fourth

Just a few minutes after Horse of the Year Wise Dan was shocked at Keeneland,

Southern California's leading Breeders' Cup Mile contender, Obviously, was

unceremoniously upset in the Grade 2, $150,750

City

of Hope Mile at Santa Anita. As the 1-2 favorite wilted in deep stretch and

ended up fourth, the 13-1 No Jet Lag lived up to his name with a barnstorming

late run to earn his first stakes victory.

The only three-year-old in the field, Anthony Ramsden's No Jet Lag was

recently repatriated from England, where he had been drubbed in a pair of

handicaps this season. But the gelded son of Johar made a winning debut for

Simon Callaghan in an August 11 optional claimer at Del Mar, and took another

step forward here.

Obviously, the winner of this race last year when it was known as the Arroyo

Seco Mile, did not get his customary trip on the front end this time. Instead,

Endorsement sprinted ahead and reeled off fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 2/5.

Obviously chased in second, while No Jet Lag raced just about midpack in fifth

for new rider Mike Smith.

Rounding the far turn, Obviously asserted himself and quickened clear through

six furlongs in 1:08 2/5. The defending champion continued to hold sway in

midstretch, motoring seven furlongs in 1:20, but he soon telegraphed his

impending upset. Obviously hit the proverbial wall inside the final furlong and

found himself swamped by the closers.

No Jet Lag was the first on the scene. After roaring past the odds-on choice,

he held the belated thrust of He Be Fire N Ice by a half-length. No Jet Lag

smoked the firm-turf mile in 1:31.84, just .06 off the course record established

by Wise Dan in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile, in which Obviously hung tough for

third. That had been Obviously's only prior loss at a mile, until Saturday.

Now No Jet Lag has run himself into Mile consideration.

"This is a really talented horse," Callaghan said. "He needs a pace, more to

relax than anything. I told the owner, he's the best horse or the second-best

I've had. It wasn't an easy decision to throw him into this race, but we believe

he's really talented and deserved the shot.

"He's eligible for the Breeders' Cup. We'll discuss it now with the owner.

That was the whole reason behind running in this race, rather than waiting for a

two-other-than (condition) that he was eligible for. It wasn't a surprise to us,

put it to you that way."

Callaghan was asked about the instructions he gave to Smith.

"I just said there's bound to be a lot of speed in the race, with Obviously,

and I thought something else might go with him, which proved to be the case,"

the trainer observed. "My horse has an enormous amount of speed. It's just a

matter of harnessing it and getting him to react. That's the most important

thing."

"I have a lot of respect for Simon," Hall of Famer Smith said. "In the

paddock he told me it wouldn't surprise him one bit if this horse won, to trust

him. That's all he had to say. I have the utmost respect for him and his

opinion, so when he said that I knew I was live. I guess he got off a little

slow last race, but he broke OK today.

"Actually, he was pretty aggressive the first part of the race but I just

jammed him in behind, European-style, like he's used to and that turned out good

enough.

"When I kicked him out turning for home he exploded. I was loaded (coming up

on Obviously.) I didn't know if it would be enough to pass him, but when I was

getting to him (it felt like it), but I was more worried about the gray (He Be

Fire N Ice) behind me at that point, to be honest with you."

He Be Fire N Ice had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Barocci, his stablemate from

the John Sadler barn, who overhauled Obviously

by a half-length. Next came Starspangled Heat, Willyconker, Endorsement and

Polytechnicien. Huntsville was scratched.

Obviously's jockey, Joe Talamo, was hopeful of a turnaround next time in the

Mile.

"My horse relaxed right out of the gate -- we were just unfortunate today,"

Talamo said. "He kicked home real nice, ran a great race, but we were outrun

today. I think we're all a little bit disappointed, but he's still a nice horse

and we still have the Breeders' Cup. He'll bounce back."

No Jet Lag, who sparked a $28.20 win payout, boosted his bankroll to $148,778

from his 9-4-1-0 line. The bay began his career under the tutelage of David

Lanigan in England, breaking his maiden over Lingfield's Polytrack and romping

in a Redcar novice last summer. Runner-up to Juddmonte's well-regarded Ashdan in

a conditions race at Doncaster, he ended his juvenile campaign with a seventh as

the favorite in the Star Appeal over Dundalk's Polytrack. No Jet Lag was unable

to make his presence felt in his two English outings in 2013, trudging home last

of 10 in an April 19 handicap at Newbury, and 18th of 19 in a June 15 handicap

at York, but he has found a new lease of life in California.

Bred by Greenwood Lodge Farm in Kentucky, No Jet Lag is out of the Group

3-placed stakes heroine Desert Sky. The Green Desert mare is also responsible

for the Group 3-placed Optari. This is the family of English/French highweight

Mubtaker and Grade/Group 3 winners Prussian, Husyan and Tabassum.

No Jet Lag's fourth dam, *Caterina II, captured the 1966 Nunthorpe. She went

on to produce French champion two-year-old filly Ancient Regime and Italian

champion sprinter Cricket Ball, and she also appears as the ancestress of

Peruvian champion Natalie Too and multiple Grade 3 hero Same Old Wish.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com