Coaxed by David Lopez, Nightly News ($3.60) switched leads with a sixteenth of mile to the finish and drew clear by 2 ¼ lengths from Gunfire with Arizona Moon third in the field of seven 3-year-old colts and geldings.
Owned by local car dealer Hal Earnhardt, III and trained by Dan McFarland, Nightly News covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.86 for his second lifetime victory and earnings of $63,644.
The Arizona Oaks
Protective Shield and Martin Bourdieu kept chalk players holding their breath as the prohibitive 2-5 favorite came rolling from mid-pack but was all out to defeat a game Joan of Arch by a half-length with pace-setter Malibu Kash third in the field of ten 3-year-old fillies.
Owned by Tom Grether Farms and trained by Robert Lawrence, Protective Shield ($2.80) covered the one mile in 1:38.51 and remains undefeated in three starts. Her $16,242 in earnings for her Az Oaks win increased her bankroll to $44,933