U'narack Captures Real Good Deal Stakes

Benefitting from patient handling by jockey Julien Leparoux, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ U’narack found room entering the stretch to rally and go on to score a narrow but convincing victory in Friday’s featured $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred three-year-olds.

Forced to bide his time behind horses on the stretch turn, Leparoux swung U’narack to the outside and the son of Unusual Heat responded generously to score by a half-length over 9-1 longshot Ambitious Brew. Raised a Secret was third, 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up and half-length in front of fourth-place Omega Star.

Tiz a Minister, the 8-5 favorite, trailed early in the seven-furlong sprint and wound up a non-threatening fifth in the eight-horse field.

U’narack ran the distance in 1:22.23  in scoring his third victory in five starts. Going postward at 5-1, the winner paid $12.60, $6.80 and $4.80. First money of $110,000 increased the gelding’s earnings to $194,080. Jerry Hollendorfer conditions the sophomore who was a two-time winner at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Runner-up Ambitious Brew, who was piloted by Mike Smith, paid $9.40 and $5.20 while Raised a Secret returned  $3.80 to show.