NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Having contended in graded company in his first two stakes appearances, Repole Stable’s Notacatbutallama broke through with his first stakes victory on Sunday in the $85,000 Incurable Optimist co-featured on Belmont’s Closing Day card.
Cutting back to one mile for the first time in his five career starts, the 2-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday was billed as “the horse to beat” on Sunday – with post time odds to match (3-5).
Breaking from post eight (of nine) under regular jockey John Velazquez, Notacatbutallama bided his time midpack in the early stages, five or so lengths off a solid pace set by Bernie the Jet (23.55, 48.14). Moving up into fourth in the backstretch, Notacatbutallama negotiated the turn four wide and straightened out for home.
Passing all but the pacesetter in upper stretch, Notacatbutallama found his best stride with a furlong to go, gained the lead and pulled away to secure the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:36.33.
Notacatbutallama broke his maiden at second asking in state-bred company by an impressive 6 1/2 lengths at Saratoga on August 20. Meeting Grade 2 rivals on short rest next out in the With Anticipation on August 30, the colt finished fourth behind Balance the Books and Joha, both entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. In his most recent start on October 8 at Belmont, Notacatbutallama ran second in the Grade 3 Pilgrim on yielding turf to Noble Tune, another BC Juvenile Turf contender.
With two victories and two seconds, Notacatbutallama has banked $143,000 in five starts.
A fourth generation product of Happy Hill Farm breeding, Notacatbutallama was foaled at Sue and Gary Lundy’s Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains. He is one of five foals to start and the third winner out of Self Rising, a stakes-placed daughter of Hansel ($164,931). Her second foal was nine-time winner and six-figure earner Toque by Alphabet Soup ($147,396).
Notacatbutallama first sold as a 2011 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred Saratoga yearling for $50,000 to Nick de Meric, who turned him around as a two-year-old at the OBS Spring sale, where he was purchased by Repole Stables for $105,000.
Self Rising currently has a yearling filly by Mineshaft, no reported foal this year and was bred in 2012 to Girolamo.
