Sabino Canyon battled the length of the stretch with the favorite Bravaro, finally gaining the advantage nearing the wire to win the $100,000 Petramalo Mile by a determined neck at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Aug. 1.
The win marked the second consecutive Stakes victory for the three-year-old Maxfield colt, who captured the listed Los Alamitos Derby in his previous start.
Patiently ridden by John Velazquez, Sabino Canyon sat a stalking trip in third, content to let Six Speed and Bravaro fight it out on the front end. Sabino Canyon went up to vie for command while racing three-wide on the far turn, drawing alongside the two leaders as they hit the top of the lane.
The trio raced in tandem briefly before Six Speed threw in the towel, leaving Sabino Canyon and Bravaro to battle it out the remaining furlong. At the wire it was Sabino Canyon by a neck over Bravaro, with Exosome closing belatedly to take third.
Bred in Kentucky by Mercedes Stables LLC, Sabino Canyon was purchased for $575,000 by his current connections at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is out of the winning Quality Road mare, Broadway Play, and is a half-brother to multiple Stakes winner, Littlestitious (Ghostzapper).
In addition to Sabino Canyon, Maxfield is also the sire of the exciting three-year-old colt, Englishman, winner of the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes where he equaled the Saratoga track record. Other 2026 Stakes winners include Maximum Offer, winner of the G3 Indiana Oaks; Ivy Girl, winner of the Weber City Miss Stakes and Holly’s Holiday, winner of the Valley of the Vapors Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
