Fourth Stakes Victory for Nothing Better
It was a fourth career stakes victory for Nothing Better (7g Munnings x One True Love, by Duke of Marmalade) on Saturday when he won the Mighty Beau Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The five-furlong turf sprint saw Nothing Better keep the leader honest throughout the early stages of the race as he pressed the pace. Swung wide coming out of the turn, he had the lead inside the final sixteenth and was pushed all the way to the wire to win by half a length in the end.
“We thought about running in the Jaipur but the forecast at Saratoga called for rain and we knew he wanted a firm turf course. We made the right decision running here. We’ll obviously keep him turf sprinting this summer and if we can get to the Breeders’ Cup, great,” owner Richard Santulli said.
This was the 10th victory in 27 starts for the Jorge Durante Jr. trainee, who has hit the board in 18 starts overall for over $700,000 in earnings.
Bred by Don Alberto, he was a $230,000 2-year-old purchase and has won at least one race in each of his five racing seasons.
Nothing Better is one of three winners out of a half-sister to the Grade I-winning Folk Opera. Also under his second dam is Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior and Grade I winner Mr. Bailetti with France’s 2008 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Proportional under his third dam.
This is the sixth stakes winner of the year for Munnings, tying him for ninth among all active North American sires in 2024.