Golden State Series: California Flag Handicap

Galilean, outside, lands the sixth stakes of his career with a nose victory in the California Flag

© BENOIT PHOTO

BY EMILY SHIELDS

alilean, the 3-2 favorite in the $100,000 California Flag

Handicap, not only had to run gamely to score by a nose, but he had to sweat out a lengthy inquiry as well. Te stewards ultimately decided there would be no change in the 51⁄2-furlong turf contest, leaving California-bred Galilean as the victor.

Bred by Bar C Racing Stables and owned by the partnership of West Point Toroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Galilean has proved to be a shrewd purchase. A $600,000 juvenile buy for West Point Toroughbreds, the son of Uncle Mo— Fresia, by El Prado, was foaled at John Harris’ Harris Farms in Coalinga and his dam was bred back to Unusual Heat.

Since his initial purchase, Galilean has gathered a record of six wins in 12 starts, with a second and three thirds, for total earnings of $577,098. He debuted with a victory in the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile Stakes in 2018, then added the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes before the year was out. At 3, the strapping bay won the $188,000 California Cup Derby before fnding himself on the Triple Crown trail, fnishing third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and ffth in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Away from the races from April 13 until Feb. 20 of this year, Galilean took three tries to get his groove back but did so in style, reeling of wins in the $101,500 Soi Phet Stakes at Los Alamitos and $127,500 California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar. He completed a Southern California stakes trifecta with his win in the Oct. 11 California Flag Handicap at Santa Anita.

Under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Galilean tracked pacesetting speedster Mikes Tiznow in second before pouncing in the stretch. As Galilean took the lead, Ultimate Bango slipped through on the rail. Te two dueled and Galilean drifted in a bit, before they reached the line with just a head separating them.

Galilean had fnished frst in 1:02.13, with Rookie Mistake back in third. After an inquiry, the stewards ruled that Galilean’s drifting in caused Mikes Tiznow to check but did not cost him a placing and so made no change.

“What a cool horse,” said West Point Toroughbreds CEO Terry Finley of Galilean. “He has done just about everything now, sprint or route on the dirt, sprint or route on the turf. He’s always been an incredible specimen. Six stakes wins, almost $600,000 in earnings, and still a lot to look forward to from him.”

Winning trainer John Sadler, who took over from Jerry Hollendorfer this year, said after the race, “He’s a really good horse. Tis is the third stakes we’ve won with him, and he’s won six overall now. He’s got so much class.”

Fresia was a Sam-Son Farm-bred, Canadian-based racehorse who raced there before being sold at the 2015 Keeneland November sale while carrying Galilean for just $35,000. Since then she has had just one live foal, a Harbor the Gold juvenile named Harbored Memories who is in training on the Southern California circuit. Fresia was bred to Goldencents for 2021.

With options on dirt or turf and against Cal-breds or open company, Galilean will have no shortage of available opportunities.