Page 188 - September 2020

RACING NEWS
Golden State Derby-G2
CIRCLE CITY
by Tracy Gantz
Dr. Ed Allred has developed many good female families in breeding a long line of stakes winners. Full brothers Circle City
and Nomadic come from one of those. Nomadic captured the July 26 Governor’s Cup Derby-RG2, and Circle City won the Aug. 16 Golden State Derby-G2, both at Los Alamitos.
Circle City has been especially adept out
of the gate, which he demonstrated once again in the Golden State Derby after qualifying
the fastest. He sped away under jockey Vinnie Bednar, maintaining about a 1/2-length advantage throughout the 400 yards. That was his winning margin, as he stopped the timer in :19.734, posting a 94 speed index.
“He’s been real mellow in the post parade, and he’s been so good in the gate,” said Bednar. “He stood absolutely perfect. He broke just like he did in the trials. I could not be happier with how he was in the gates.”
Circle City drew the 2-post, a factor Bednar felt led to the winning margin.
“He was finishing well—he just did not
see the horses on the outside,” said the rider. “I think he would have given me more if he would have seen them.”
Scott Willoughby trains Circle City for Allred. Last year, Circle City ran second in the Golden State Million Futurity-G1, the only time Bednar hasn’t ridden him. Bednar also won the Governor’s Cup Derby with Nomadic.
“I’m so thankful to Dr. Allred and Scott Willoughby for all the opportunities they’ve given me,” said Bednar.
Prior to the Golden State trials, Circle City hadn’t competed since mid-May. Willoughby said that they turned him out at the Steve Charles Training Center in Romoland, California.
“I think the horse is
getting better,” stated
Willoughby. “We gave him
some time off. He seems
to have liked that. He has
mellowed out. He is starting
to pay attention and has
matured quite a bit. I think he needed a little experience and to relax for a while. He was just needing to get out and just relax a little bit. He was just fighting his head a little bit. They will
tell you when they want to go on vacation and relax a little bit.”
Circle City had only lost the Golden State Million Futurity by a nose to Runforyourlife. “He ran a great race in the Golden State,”
said Willoughby. “He should have won it, I thought. The horse that won it is a great horse,
and we just could not run him down. We gave him a little head start, and (Circle City) messed up a little bit away from the gate. The other horse got away great, and they deserved to win the race. They had a great horse that night.”
Circle City could meet Nomadic in the Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 final on Nov. 8, if both qualify.
“Dr. Allred made the late payment on this horse
of $30,000 to make him eligible to the Super Derby trials,” said Willoughby.
Allred bred Circle City in California from Moonlight Corona, who won two stakes,
Los Alamitos $200,018 • 400 yards :19.734 • si 94
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
CIRCLE CITY, ‘17-g.
Corona Cartel
Moonlight Corona
Moon Arisen
186 SPEEDHORSE September 2020
Circle City and Vinnie Bednar winning the $200,018 Golden State Derby-G2 at Los Alamitos.
Los Alamitos