US Stakes-Winner for No Nay Never
A regular shuttler to Australia for the past four seasons, No Nay Never added a 22nd stakes-winner to his tally in the US on the weekend when Vitalogy (3c No Nay Never x Sylvestris, by Arch ) took out the $150,000 Grade III Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream.
Vitalogy made his first two starts for trainer Joseph O’Brien in Europe last summer prior to switching to North America and joining the stable of Brendan Walsh.
Placed twice in Graded races since his arrival in the US, Viatlogy was overdue for the win and forged clear to win the 1 and 1/16th mile turf contest by a length for Javier Castellano, taking his overall record to two wins and two placings from five starts.
“We were a bit concerned about the wide barrier (gate 12), but we had the master on his back,” said Brendan Walsh.
“He (Castellano) is brilliant in situations like that. The horse looked so good before the race. He was so calm and it’s exactly what you want to see from a horse like that. He negotiated a good trip, but he said he brought him there today, whereas today you kind of had to put him everywhere. “He’s learning. But it’s a great run off the layoff, because I just had enough work in him. I think they all had their shot, if anybody was good enough to get by him, but he’s great and hats off to him.”
Vitalogy is the best of three winners from stakes-placed Sylvestris.