Almost three years had passed since then Port of Bali had seen the winner’s circle before he outlasted a field of $50,000 contenders last September in Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro took a chance on the aging fighter, a multiple stakes winner who had hit the board nine times in graded company during his long career, and claimed him for client John Holleman. Two starts later, the gelding’s erstwhile spark rekindled in a big way with a gutsy lead in the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 17 at Oaklawn Park.
“He’s a nice horse with a lot of class behind him,” said Diodoro. “He’s really come on the last few weeks here at Oaklawn.”
Going the distance from a third-place showing in the 1 5/8-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup card, Bal Harbor was sharp out of the gate and raced to the lead under the lead of rider Christian Torres. . Scratching the beat possible Hozier left the 7-year-old with a healthy advantage at the front as he cut fractions of :23.53 and :47.41 on a fast main track that had favored speed all afternoon.
Favored Run Classic , making his second stakes effort since an off-the-board effort in the 2021 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), was never far behind Bal Harbor and appeared a threat when trailing even with the gel arm around far turn. As they headed home, Bal Harbor pulled away from that rival and raced to the wire, avoiding a late shutout The Last Samurai from a neck under the wire.
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Bal Harbor ($5.80) went 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.22.
Bal Harbor Connections Enjoy Trophy Presentation for Tinsel Stakes
Last Samurai, three lengths ahead Scarlet Fusion third, turned in his best performance since taking home a four-length winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April for trainer Dallas Stewart. Now trained by Stewart’s mentor D. Wayne Lukas, The Last Samurai, owned by the late Willis Horton, is winless in his last six starts.
Diodoro won his second Tinsel in a row, after taking last year’s edition with another honorable mention, The lonely rock . Comparing his two pupils, Diodorus said: “They both like their work in the morning, and they are both big fat horses.”
Bal Harbor moved one step closer to matching Lone Rock’s $1.4 million in earnings, increasing his tally to $870,800 after Saturday’s win.
A son of The first samurai , Bal Harbor was bred in Kentucky by Red Oak Stable, who campaigned in his first 32 starts, including multiple stakes wins with Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He is out of stock winners Carson City mare Casino Transaction dam of six winners from six foals to race, including the multi-stakes placed Charleymillionaire (Sky Mesa ).
