Showing toughness on the front end, Navajo Warrior delivered a 2 3/4-length victory in his graded stakes debut May 15 at Laurel Park in the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
The bump up in class did nothing to slow the winning ways of the 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding as the former claimer landed his eighth win in his last 10 starts. While trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. expects to give Navajo Warrior a bit of a break as this race was his spring target, the performance also had the trainer thinking big for next year.
"This was the main plan for now but there's a lot of goals down the line," Joseph said. "He's a gelding and we can think about next year. The dream might be getting to the Saudi Cup, because it's a mile and an eighth around one turn. Even if you run fifth, it's a million dollars. So there's a lot of reasons to try to get there, but there's a long way to go. Still, it's a long-term goal."
Besides the step up in class Friday, the 1 3/16-mile distance of the Pimlico Special—matching the distance of the upcoming Preakness Stakes (G1) Saturday at Laurel—marked the longest race to date for Navajo Warrior. While he typically comes from just off the pace, or occasionally a bit farther back, Navajo Warrior broke well Friday.
Aboard for the first time, Flavien Prat, the reigning two-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey, decided to roll with the good start. Navajo Warrior looked comfortable throughout as he cruised through a half-mile in :48.40 and 6 furlongs in 1:12.43 while pressed by last year's Pimlico Special winner Awesome Aaron. Navajo Warrior put that one away and had enough to hold off a stretch challenge from Maclean's Rook, who put together a big move on the far turn to rally from sixth on his way to a second-place finish.
"It didn't look like there was a whole lot of speed. I wanted to break clean and see what other riders were doing. He jumped very well and found himself on the lead," Prat said. "I got a little pressure down the backside, but he kind of got away from that and, after that, he did the rest."
Navajo Warrior drew off late for the victory, completing the 1 3/16 miles in 1:56.61 on a fast track; he returned $4.60 as the 6-5 favorite. Maclean's Rook earned his first graded stakes placing, while San Siro finished third in a grade 3 stakes for a third straight time.
Previously trained by Tim Yakteen, Navajo Warrior won a maiden claiming race in October 2024 at Del Mar and, after a loss, he won his next three races at Santa Anita Park. After a private purchase, current owners BAG Racing Stables, Miller Racing, Dr. Derek Paul, Mathis Stable, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch took over and moved the horse to Joseph. They watched Navajo Warrior win a late August starter optional claiming race at Saratoga Race Course last year and Friday marked his fifth win in seven starts for Joseph.
"I think he has the will, he has the will," Joseph said. "When he started off early, he wasn't running. But once he got into form ... he hasn't looked back."
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Navajo Warrior is out of the unplaced Storm Cat mare Crosswinds, who has produced six winners from seven starters, including grade 1 winner Weep No More and grade 3 winner Current. Navajo Warrior's second dam is Flute, winner of the 2001 Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes (both G1).
Consigned by his breeder to the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stable (Donato Lanni, agent) went to $125,000 to land the horse.
