Nob Hill, A Long-Champ!

Nob Hill was never far from an early speed duel, but she proved herself much the best when she charged down the stretch to capture the Grade I, $500,000 GSR Diamond over Longchamp’s firm grass course on Saturday.

It was an extreme show, as Xtremely A Show and Prahba(AUS) exchanged early, contentious fire on the lead, with The Blue Sword(GB) and Large Marge(IRE) in close pursuit.  The opening half-mile looked very strong, which was when the 7-1 Nob Hill began to unleash her late run.  She carried her momentum between horses, finally reaching the lead with about three-sixteenths to go.  The talented turf juvenile was clear by two-and-a-quarter lengths under the line.  Takethecar, breaking from an outside post, was wide throughout, but closed sufficiently to wind up second.  The Blue Sword(GB), stalking close the whole way, had just enough left to hold on to third.  And a horse to watch closely from this field is the favored Benefactress(IRE).  Dropping almost 10 lengths out of it with a half-mile remaining, she unleashed a furious late rally on the turn, and finished strong far too late to edge out early leader Prahba(AUS) for fourth.  She galloped out very well, and showed tremendous grit and heart late to impress the railbirds, who agreed that longer distances, perhaps even the added sixteenth of next month’s Juvenile Filly Turf, are in her future.

Nob Hill, a beautiful light grey daughter of Miesque’s Son-Frisco Project, by With Approval, ran the grass mile on a firm course in 1:37, meriting an 87 speed fig and earning $300,000 for the novanora barn, and has garnered new respect in the turf rankings, climbing all the way to #2 in the classic division.  She’ll be one to reckon with when the Sim’s top two-year-olds on grass, filly division, congregate in New York for October 29th’s Breeders Bowl Juvenile Filly Turf.  The race, for week 2657, shapes up to be a handicapper’s challenge.