Aloha West picked the perfect time to earn his first Graded Stakes victory when he nailed Dr. Schivel on the wire to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint by a nose at Del Mar Nov. 6.
Aloha West, a four-year-old colt by Hard Spun, signaled his readiness for the Breeders’ Cup with a sharp runner-up finish to Special Reserve (by Midshipman) in the G2 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland in October. Aloha West has five wins and two seconds in eight career starts.
It was heavily-favored Jackie’s Warrior that went to the front at the start to set the pace. He was quickly joined by Special Reserve and Matera Sky, which put pressure on the favorite through swift opening fractions.
The strain began to show as Jackie’s Warrior began to run out of gas and gave way in the stretch to California-based Dr. Schivel, who was flying on the far outside. Racing even wider was Aloha West, and it came down to a photo to separate Aloha West and Dr. Schivel at the wire.
Aloha West was bred in Maryland by Robert T. Manfuso and Katherine M. Voss, and is out of the Speightstown mare, Island Bound, winner of the G3 Winning Colors Stakes. Second dam Indy Mood for Luv is a multiple Stakes-placed half-sister to Graded Stakes winners Savorthetime (G3) and Rogue Romance (G3).
Hard Spun is once again having an exceptional year. In addition to Aloha West he is represented by the brilliant G1 Met Mile winner, Silver State; G3 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes winner, Summer in Saratoga; Antoinette (G3 The Very One Stakes); Caddo River (Listed Smarty Jones Stakes); Mohs (Hawthorne Derby) and Tightly Twisted.
