Salamis clinched the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar on Saturday, winning by a neck and securing trainer Chad Brown his second significant victory. Starting from the No. 4 gate in an eight-horse field of 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles on turf, Salamis, guided by jockey Humberto Rispoli, settled in sixth early on. Approaching the home stretch, they advanced to fifth on the inside. Tom’s Magic, with a strong record of four wins and one loss, briefly took the lead after moving wide, but Salamis surged past him for the win.
Though Rispoli couldn’t keep up with Tempus Vorat and pacesetter Kokosan down the stretch, he found a space in the last sixteenth of a mile to secure third place, just ahead of Tom’s Magic. Rispoli shared that Chad Brown was confident the horse would settle right after the gate and trusted the horse’s capability despite the slow pace.
Earlier in the day, Brown’s trainee Just Alof, daughter of Justify, added to her win at Belmont by capturing the $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies.
Finishing in 1:50.74, Salamis paid $8.20, marking Brown’s fifth Hollywood Derby triumph—previous winners include Annals of Time (2016), Raging Bull (2018), Domestic Spending (2020), and Program Trading (2023).
Salamis, bred by Juddmonte from Speightstown (dam of Antonoe), had won his first stakes in the Gio Ponti at Belmont on September 28. With this victory, his record stands at seven races: 3 wins, no seconds, and 2 third-place finishes, and earnings reaching $353,363.
Brown’s assistant, Jose Hernandez, praised the horse’s talent and consistency, noting strong training sessions at Keeneland and Del Mar, affirming Salamis deserved the win.
Race fractions were :24.14, :49.92, 1:15.18, 1:39.20, finishing at 1:50.74.
Fan Take: Salamis’ win under Chad Brown’s expert guidance highlights the emergence of new turf talents, maintaining excitement in the 3-year-old division. This victory not only cements Brown’s legacy but also signals a promising future for turf racing, attracting fans eager for thrilling finishes and top-class competition.
