There was a brief, telling moment as Rafael Hernandez eased Nobals back to the Woodbine winner’s circle on Saturday evening. The jockey leaned forward, gave the seasoned sprinter a soft kiss on the neck, and let out a relieved laugh — the kind that comes only after a hard-earned win. It summed up everything about Nobals’ determined repeat triumph in the Kennedy Road Stakes, a performance steeped in grit, familiarity, and the mutual trust of a long-standing partnership.
The six-year-old, already adored by Woodbine followers, delivered again in the Grade 2 sprint, showing the same fire that carried him to a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint title and last year’s Kennedy Road success. Hernandez, riding with trademark composure, allowed Nobals to settle comfortably in third as Western Whirl and Reload’s Rascal traded punches through a sharp opening quarter in :22.26.
The pace duel stayed fierce past the half-mile in :44.85, leaving Nobals poised to pounce. Hernandez nudged him into the clear turning for home and, once straightened, the gelding lengthened with precision. Lucky Score came flying late, while Awesome Bourbon and Society’s Thunder also powered through the closing strides, but the reigning champion refused to yield. Nobals held on by a resolute half-length, stopping the clock in 1:09.85.
A post-race inquiry altered the final order, with Lucky Score’s late charge deemed interference, shifting him from second to fourth. Awesome Bourbon inherited the runner-up spot, and Society’s Thunder moved into third.
Hernandez, who partnered Nobals to a narrow runner-up finish in last month’s Nearctic Stakes, praised the gelding’s adaptability. “He makes your job easy,” he said. “The race unfolded exactly how we hoped. When you ride a horse with this much class, you always feel like you’re in the right place.”
Trainer Larry Rivelli, who recently celebrated his 2,000th career win, sent a jubilant message moments after the result: “GOOD RIDE! GREAT HORSE!” It was another triumphant homecoming for the son of Noble Mission (GB), who famously set a Woodbine track record in the 2022 Woodstock Stakes and captured last year’s Kennedy Road in 1:08.59.
Owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, Nobals now boasts a record of 13 wins, 6 seconds, and a third from 30 starts, continuing a journey that began as a bargain $3,500 Fasig-Tipton yearling. For a horse who started humbly, his rise remains one of modern racing’s most rewarding stories.
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