San Rafael

J. Paul Reddam's NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]) moved past pacesetter Tenfold (Tiznow)

at the head of the stretch and strode clear to a facile four-length win in the

$150,000 San Rafael S. (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Trained by Doug O'Neill

and ridden by Corey Nakatani, the bay completed one mile over the fast going

in a sharp 1:36 2/5 en route to his initial stakes win. Sent off at 3-5 odds,

the winner paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 while keying the $5.30 exacta ($1) and

$22.10 trifecta ($1) (3-5-4).

Tenfold shot directly to the lead and led the field through early splits of

:23, :46 1/5 and 1:10 4/5 for the opening six panels, prior to being overtaken

by the eventual winner. The bay colt did well to maintain the place spot by a

head, good for $3.40 and $2.60 as the 3-1 second choice. Grapelli (Thunder

Gulch) closed well from off the pace to garner show honors, worth $3.20 at nearly

8-1. Silent Soul (Afternoon Deelites) was another nose back and followed by Tap

It Light (General Meeting), Soldier (Quiet American) and Half Famous (Tribal

Rule). 

Notional upped his career mark to 4-2-0-1, $133,200, including a third in the

Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) two back.

The winner was bred in the Golden State by Vessels Stallion Farm, and purchased for $235,000 at the 2006 Barretts March Two-Year-Olds in Training

Sale. Produced from the winning Truly Blessed (French Deputy), Notional has an

unraced two-year-old half-brother named Blessedbythebest (Apollo).