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Balboa
Closer
“Balboa comes from well off the pace and relies on closing speed to pick up the pieces. The late turn of foot is real — GPS data confirms genuine acceleration — but sometimes the front runners are just too far gone.”
Fun Facts
- Raced at AQU on 2026-02-28 in a $300K Stakes event
- Went off at 2.87-1 odds — the bettors' pick
- Peak GPS speed of 18.1 ft/s recorded during the race
TrainerDale Romans
JockeyDrayden Van Dyke
SirePioneerof the Nile
DamStorm Chaser
Age6 yrs
Weight1127 lbs
$575K
Career Earnings
8
Career Wins
✓ Strengths
- ✓Elite top speed of 18.1 ft/s — in the upper tier of GPS-tracked horses
- ✓Patient running style preserves energy for a strong stretch run
- ✓Consistent GPS speed profile shows professional-level fitness
⚠ Weaknesses
- ⚠Closing kick doesn't always arrive in time — can run out of real estate
GPS Performance Data
Speed Curve (ft/s across race)
18.1
Top Speed
ft/s
16.3
Avg Speed
ft/s
2.24
Stride Efficiency
5.0
Avg Finish
of 1 races
8F
Best Distance
Dirt
Best Surface
Recent Results
DateTrackFinish
Feb 28, 2026AQU5th