CERIN’S RECENTLY ACQUIRED MAN FRIDAY MUCH THE BEST AS HE TAKES $63,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE BY 1 ¾ LENGTHS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2021)–Claimed for $50,000 out of his most recent start, the Vladimir Cerin-trained Man Friday made a substantial down payment on the investment, as he rallied from off the pace to take Sunday’s $63,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by 1 ¾ lengths.  Ridden for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, Man Friday, a 3-year-old ridgling by 2015 Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah, got a flat mile on turf in 1:33.71.

Idle since winning from far off the pace going a mile on turf Aug. 20 at Del Mar, Man Friday was much closer to the pace today.  A joint sixth at the rail in a field of nine while about four lengths off the lead a half mile from home, Man Friday continued to save ground until Desormeaux angled out approaching the quarter pole.

Three-deep turning for home, Man Friday leveled nicely approaching the sixteenth pole and blew by runner-up Cotopaxi under a hand ride in a very impressive effort.

“I worked him one time for Vladimir after he claimed him and I thought he worked like a very good horse,” said Desormeaux.  “I told Vlado, ‘You’ve got a very serious horse here,’ and he showed it today.”

Off at 5-1 in a first condition allowance restricted to 3-year-olds, Man Friday paid $13.20, $6.80 and $3.80.

Owned by Marie J. Fritts, Lauri Seymour and Todd Cady, Man Friday, who was originally purchased for $325,000 as a weanling, picked up $37,800 for his new owners, increasing his career earnings to $148,780 from an overall mark of 13-3-2-1.

Irish-bred Cotopaxi, off at 7-1 with Drayden Van Dyke, had 1 ½ length advantage a furlong out, but was second best, finishing three quarters of length in front of Dicey Mo Chara and paid $7.80 and $4.40.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, who was bidding for his third consecutive win on the card, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara was the second choice at 7-2 and paid $3.60 to show while finishing a half length in front Numero Dix.

Spirit Maker, the 8-5 favorite, was attentive to the early pace but had nothing to offer through the lane and checked in next to last.

Fractions on the race were 22.45, 46.15, 1:09.88 and 1:21.79.

Racing resumes with a special Columbus Day card on Monday.  First post time for 10 races is at  1 p.m.