Nobals repeats in Grade 2 Kennedy Road

TORONTO, November 15, 2025 – Nobals, with Rafael Hernandez in the irons, defended his crown with a gritty showing in Saturday’s $175,000 bet365 Kennedy Road (G2) at Woodbine.

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champ once again looked right at home at the Toronto oval.

Hernandez settled Nobals, the 4-5 choice on the tote board, into third in the early going as Western Whirl and Reload’s Rascal sat one-two, respectively, at the outset of the six-furlong main track tilt for 3-year-olds and up.

Western Whirl held a half-length advantage over Reload’s Rascal, while Nobals was a further 1 ½ lengths back through an opening quarter in :22.26.

The front-end tussle carried on after a half in :44.85, as the duo continued to spar coming off the turn for home.

Nobals, guided to the outside, was given his cue by Hernandez and the multiple graded stakes winner began to accelerate straightening for home and took over the proceedings mid-way down the lane. Lucky Score, well back in the early going, had already gathered momentum and came charging with an energetic late brush in the final 100 yards, while Awesome Bourbon and Society’s Thunder both finished with a flourish.

At the wire, Nobals dug in to prevail by a hard-fought half-length in a time of 1:09.85. Lucky Score finished second but was disqualified and placed fourth. Awesome Bourbon was elevated to second and Society’s Thunder to third.

Hernandez, aboard Nobals in his previous start, a second, just a neck back of No Nay Hudson (IRE) in the Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine on October 4, heaped praise on the bay gelding who is closing in on $2 million in career earnings.

“My plan was that the two (Western Whirl), obviously he’s going to go, and the three (Reload’s Rascal) is going to show a lot of speed,” said Woodbine’s leading rider in wins and stakes wins in 2025. “In case the three didn’t go, I was going to sit right next to the two. But it set up perfect.”

Trainer Larry Rivelli, who recently reached the 2,000-win plateau, texted seconds after the race.

“GOOD RIDE! GREAT HORSE!” read the message from Rivelli.

It was yet another happy return to the Toronto oval for 6-year-old Nobals.

In 2022, the son of Noble Mission (GB) out of the Empire Maker mare Pearly Blue won the Woodstock Stakes. The final time of 1:07.63 remains a track record. Last year, he took the Kennedy Road in a time of 1:08.59.

With the win, Nobals, owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, is 13-6-1 from 30 starts.

“They make your job easy when you can do whatever you want with the horses,” said Hernandez. “They have a lot of class, horses like that. It just makes your job easy.”

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler, Nobals was a $3,500 (U.S.) purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale.

He paid $3.80 for the Kennedy Road win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine