None Above the Law’s Del Mar Derby

BY TRACY GANTZ

Peter Miller acknowledges that he took an unusual path with California-bred None Above the Law to win the $250,000 Del Mar Derby Presented by Caesars Sportsbook (G2T) Sept. 4.

Miller’s unorthodox methods coupled with None Above the Law’s amazing versatility equaled graded stakes gold in a race flled with talent. Professional handicappers before the race had difculty settling on a likely winner. Bettors backed Bob Baffert-trained Hudson Ridge, winner of the Cinema Stakes, down to 8-5 favoritism.

Te Derby included the frst three fnishers from the one-mile Runhappy Oceanside Stakes and the 11⁄16-mile La Jolla Handicap (G3), the two earlier Del Mar turf stakes for 3-year-olds. None Above the Law competed in the Oceanside, fnishing ninth after a wide trip behind winner Flashiest.

Miller trains None Above the Law for longtime clients J. Kirk and Judy Robison, who bred the gelding and run him in the name of their Downstream Racing. Te Robisons, who live in El Paso, have been faring well with Cal-breds. Teir homebred Good With People won the 2020 I’m Smokin Stakes and was named the year’s co-champion Cal-bred 2-year-old male of the year.

None Above the Law prior to the Oceanside had won the Silky Sullivan Stakes on Golden Gate Fields’ Tapeta main track and the Alcatraz Stakes on the Golden Gate turf. He had also won on dirt at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita, so Miller entered him in the $175,500 Real Good Deal Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar. None Above the Law re-

None Above the Law, a homebred for Kirk and Judy Robison, takes the grade 2 Del Mar Derby sponded with a resounding 51⁄4-length win. set the pace. Bravo had None Above the “Tis horse just does everything well,” Law on the rail, waiting for an opening. said Miller. “He’s just an overachiever, and “We just saved all we could, and I I just love this horse.” showed him daylight turning for home,” None Above the Law had the most expe- said Bravo. “He really got up under me.” rience of all the other horses in the feld. He Did he ever. When Bravo found the also had the services of jockey Joe Bravo, a smallest of daylight on the rail inside of veteran journeyman in from the East Coast Hockey Dad in the stretch, None Above to ride at Del Mar for the summer. the Law responded with bravery, coming Bravo demonstrated extreme patience through and scoring by three-quarters of with None Above the Law, as they raced in a length in 1:48.97. Flashiest ran second, sixth while the other two Cal-breds in the with Hockey Dad third. feld, Hockey Dad and Jimmy Blue Jeans, “Peter told me this horse can do anything,” said Bravo. “He wins running seven eighths on the dirt; he wins going a mile and one-eighth on the grass.” Te Robisons bred the son of Karakontie out of the Northern Afeet mare Legally Blanca. Tey had purchased the mare carrying None Above the Law at the 2017 Keeneland © November sale for $30,000 Legal tender: Owners Kirk Robison, yellow sweater, and Judy Robi- from Bluegrass Toroughbred son accept the trophy along with trainer Peter Miller, second right Services.

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