Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Victor Nobals Returns To Work Tab; Possible For Jaipur

Patricia’s Hope’s multiple graded stakes winner Nobals had returned to the work tab after a six-month respite following victory by a neck in the five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Nov. 4  at Santa Anita

Trained by Larry Rivelli, the Noble Mission gelding stormed up the rail to cap his 2023 campaign with a trip to the Turf Sprint winner’s circle after also capturing the 5 1/2-furlong Da Hoss by a head in September at Colonial Downs.

In his first breeze back , the now 5-year-old Nobals covered three-furlongs in :39 flat on dirt April 21 at Hawthorne Race Course.

“We just gave him some time off for really no reason. It was just to give him some time, he was fine,” said Rivelli. “We’re going to come back and try to do the same thing this year. We’re going to map out a few races leading up to the Breeders’ Cup and try to do it again.”

Before the Da Hoss, Nobals contested the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Troy in August at Saratoga Race Course, where he was beaten three-quarters of a length by Cogburn over the soft Mellon Turf course.

Rivelli said that he hasn’t officially mapped out a plan for Nobals, but a possible return to the Spa could come in the Jaipur (G1) on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day, set for 5 1/2-furlongs instead of the usual six furlongs when held at Belmont Park.

“He’s won at three-quarters and five-eighths, I don’t think it matters to him. It just depends on where he will be in the race. If it is longer, he will probably be on the lead. If shorter, he probably comes from off the pace,” Rivelli said. “He runs his race every time, it just matters where he is positioned.”

A Jaipur victory awards a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in November at Del Mar.

Nobals' memorable score at the Breeders’ Cup over multiple graded stakes winner Big Invasion was awarded a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, matching his career-best earned in the 5 1/2-furlong Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) last May on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

“I figured he would run good [at the Breeders’ Cup]. You do have to get lucky. I mean everything worked out perfectly there. He just got a tiny bit checked,” said Rivelli. “And the horse that ran second was half of a jump away from catching him. Good horse and a little bit of luck.”

Nobals, out of the Empire Maker mare Pearly Blue, was a $3,500 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. He has earned in excess of $1.4 million through a lifetime record of 18-10-3-0.