Unrivaled Time took a clear step forward in Sunday’s Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar, showing the focus and composure of a horse growing rapidly into his talent. Despite some tight spots and a bump from the favourite, he pushed through when it mattered and finished with purpose to secure the win.
Sent to settle just behind a spirited early duel between Proton and Track Tiger, Diego Herrera never panicked. The two-year-old travelled sweetly, half a length adrift as the fractions rolled by in 22.97 and 47.52. Track Tiger made his move leaving the three-eighths pole, briefly shading Proton before emptying late, while Hey Nay Nay—the 1-2 favourite under Flavien Prat—launched a three-wide bid from fifth.
But it was Unrivaled Time, rising through the pack like a colt newly aware of his own ability, who produced the telling run. Herrera guided him through a tightening gap inside the final sixteenth, brushing with Hey Nay Nay before straightening and driving home with conviction. He drew clear by three-quarters of a length, earning Herrera his first graded victory at Del Mar.
Behind them, the late-charging Irisearch flashed home from last, sweeping four wide to collar Hey Nay Nay for second by a neck. Proton, who had fought on bravely, was another three-quarters back.
“The horse on the outside was coming in—he bumped me a little—but my horse kept his focus,” Herrera said. “He’s maturing. Today he showed he wants to run and belongs at this level.”
Trainer Leonard Powell shared the sentiment.
“I was very happy with our position early,” he said. “He settled, he waited, and he made the same sustained run he produced when he broke his maiden. The question was whether he could step up from Cal-breds to a graded race, and he answered it beautifully.”
Owned by Innergy Racing Corp. in partnership with breeder Alfred Pais, the Not This Time colt has now improved to 3: 2-0-0 with $97,600 earned. He paid $13.00, $6.20, $3.00. Irisearch returned $7.40 and $3.80; Hey Nay Nay paid $2.10. Final time for the mile on turf was 1:36.42, with additional splits of 1:12.16 and 1:24.43.
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