- COUNTRY GRAMMER TAKES $12 DUBAI WORLD CUP
- D’AMATO’S GREGORIAN CHANT BACK IN STYLE
- SUMTER FINDS GRASS IS GREENER IN SINGLETARY
- FESTIVE ANNUAL SPRING CARNIVAL ON APRIL 2-17
- GELDING CALLS ANYPLACE HOME AT SANTA ANITA
SANTA ANITA-BASED COUNTRY GRAMMER & HOT ROD CHARLIE 1-2 IN DUBAI
Bob Baffert’s 5-year-old Country Grammer, who was unraced last year following his win in the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 31, entered 2022 with three wins from eight starts and career earnings of $387,320. In one month, the math has changed considerably in 2022.
With a dramatic come from behind victory in today’s $12 million Dubai World Cup, coupled with his second place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26, Country Grammer now has 2022 earnings of $10,460,000. With four wins from 10 career starts, his lifetime earnings stand at a stratospheric $10,837,320.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori and saddled by primary Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes, the son of Tonalist, out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, blew by heavily favored Life is Good in the final furlong and held Doug O’Neill’s Hot Rod Charlie at bay late to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a classic finish.
Owned by Zedan Racing, WinStar Farm and Commonwealth Tb, Country Grammer kept the embattled Baffert, who remained stateside, in the international spotlight as racing’s most high profile figure.
Although specific plans for both Country Grammer and Hot Rod Charlie are unknown, both are expected to be given time off in Kentucky before they are returned to training.
Mike Willman
GRADED STAKES WINNER GREGORIAN CHANT IMPRESSIVE DOWN HILL
Idle since Oct. 1, Phil D’Amato’s Gregorian Chant was all business in his seasonal bow yesterday, as he rallied under Juan Hernandez to take the day’s $73,000 allowance feature at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf by 1 ¼ lengths in a rapid 1:58.11.
“I didn’t know how cranked I had him, but it looked like Juan had him travelling comfortably,” said D’Amato. A close fourth in the Grade II Eddie D Stakes down the hillside on Oct. 1, Gregorian Chant, originally thought to be a two-turn horse, rattled off three consecutive sprint wins out of Santa Anita turf chute a year ago, including the Grade III San Simeon Stakes on March 13, 2021.
“It’s nice to know he can handle the hill,” said D’Amato this morning. “We’re gonna keep him around one turn, whatever they have, out of the chute or down the hill, that’s what we’ll do.”
A 6-year-old English-bred gelding, Gregorian Chant is owned by Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig. With seven wins from 19 starts, he has earnings of $337,480.
Mike Willman
SUMTER ‘DOING GREAT’ FOR SINGLETARY STAKES
As his breeding strongly suggested it would, Sumter has found a home on turf and is expected to continue in his comfort zone this Saturday in the $100,000 Singletary Stakes for three-year-olds at a mile on grass.
The son of the Danzig stallion War Front out of the More Than Ready dam A Little Bit Sassy has two seconds and two wins in four starts on turf after fading to fifth by nearly 23 lengths in his debut race, a 5 ½ furlong dash on Del Mar’s main track last July.
“He’s doing great; he worked (five furlongs in) 59 this morning, pretty easy,” said Richard Mandella, who trains the colt for Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, bred in Kentucky by Bass Stables LLC.
Exercise rider Nestor Capitaine was aboard. The breeze was tied for second-fastest of 52 at the distance, with Vladimir Cerin-trained Hear My Prayer topping the list at 58.80.
Santa Anita’s runaway riding leader Flavien Prat has piloted Sumter in his last two starts, including a front-running three-quarter length win last out in the Pasadena Stakes on Feb. 19, but is not expected back from Dubai in time for the Singletary.
Mandella has engaged Mike Smith to ride.
The Singletary is named for the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner at Lone Star Park owned by Little Red Feather Racing, trained by Don Chatlos and ridden by David Flores.
ANNUAL SPRING CARNIVAL APRIL 2 THROUGH APRIL 17
While the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be the centerpiece of a seven-stakes racing bonanza April 9, five of them graded, attending fans can avail themselves of a myriad of other activities at Santa Anita’s annual Spring Carnival all weekends from April 2 through April 17.
It includes a Winner’s Circle BBQ Championship (April 2 & 3), a Ferris Wheel, Zipper, Train Ride and much more, namely carnival games and snacks, and the San Gabriel Valley’s largest Easter Egg Hunt on April 17.
For additional Spring Carnival information, please visit santaanita.com or call 626 574-RACE.
FINISH LINES: With his win aboard Gregorian Chant, Juan Hernandez collected a Hat Trick on Friday…Seven-year-old California Street, entered in today’s eighth race, is a gelding on the go. The son of Street Boss has been claimed five times from his last six starts, twice by trainer Tim Yakteen, who recently entered the Triple Crown picture after receiving top three-year-olds Doppelganger, Messier and McLaren Vale from the barn of Bob Baffert. Doppelganger worked five furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:00.20. California Street, who has won six of 23 starts, is Jon White‘s 5-2 morning line favorite and has been ridden by Umberto Rispoli in his last seven races. He will be aboard again in the starter allowance event at seven furlongs…Joe Bravo will receive the coveted George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in a Winner’s Circle ceremony following Sunday’s SIXTH RACE.
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FEATURES:
Preview of The Santa Ana Stakes
WORKOUTS:
Border Town (Mandella) 3-25-22
Majestic Eagle (Drysdale) 3-25-22
Eight Rings (Baffert) 3-25-22
Express Train (Shirreffs) 3-25-22
Bob and Jackie (Baltas) 3-25-22
Forbidden Kingdom (Chestnut) and Charlito (Dark Bay) (Mandella) 3-24-22
Chipper (Glatt) 3-24-22
Lookin So Lucky (Barba) 3-24-22
Floral Essence (Mullins) 3-24-22
Luvluv (Outside) and Kalon (Sadler) 3-24-22
Algeria (Knapp) 3-23-22
Micro Share (Outside) and Troubadour (Mandella) 3-23-22
