IMPROVING WAR AT SEA STALKS PACE AND TAKES $100,000 CINEMA STAKES BY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH AS ELLIS & SMITH TEAM FOR 1 1/8 MILE TURF WIN IN 1:49.97

ARCADIA, Calif. (June 4, 2022)–Improving War At Sea, in his first stakes engagement, stalked the early pace, rebuffed heavily favored Balnikhov turning for home and went on to an impressive three quarter length score in Saturday’s $100,000 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita.  Trained by Ron Ellis and ridden by Mike Smith, War At Sea got a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:49.97.

With eventual third place finisher Beef Winslow taking the lead into the first turn, War At Sea stalked in second, about a length off the pacesetter turning up the backside.  Sensing the pace was moderate, jockey Abel Cedillo opened up by three lengths leaving the half mile pole, but Smith quickly engaged, moving War At Sea to within 1 ½ lengths midway around the far turn as Balnikhov and Juan Hernandez challenged three-deep turning for home.

With long strides, War At Sea, a $525,000 March 2-year-old in training sale purchase last year, reeled in Cabo Spirit, gaining the advantage well inside the sixteenth pole.

“He’s a real talented colt and Ron’s done a great job with him, spacing his races and giving him time,” said Smith, who is now three for three with War At Sea.  “He’s a real big horse, but I told Ron, he always seems to have an ace up his sleeve and he hasn’t had to use it yet, so that’s a good thing.  He’s on the improve, no question.  What’s good about him as well, is he’s quick for a big horse.  He gets out of the gate good and puts you in a happy spot and after that, it’s just a matter of pointing him in the right direction.”

Owned by Doubledown Stables, Inc., War At Sea, who broke his maiden going one mile on turf two starts back on March 5 and took a one mile turf allowance April 16, was off 7-2 and paid $9.80, $3.60 and $4.80.

“It’s been a little while with this horse, I’ve always had a lot of confidence in him and he’s really put it together in the last three or four races since we put him on the grass,” said Ellis.  “He just needed a little time to get into himself.  He’s kind of a big horse, he’s almost 1,250 pounds and he’s just kind of coming into his own.  The grass seems to have made a big difference.

“I think he can run on the dirt, but we are gonna leave him on the grass and we are aiming at the Del Mar Derby (Grade II, 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 3) as our long goal.”

By War Front out of the Street Cry mare Serene Melody, War At Sea is now 7-3-0-3 and with the winner’s share of $60,000, increased his earnings to $170,780.

Last to the head of the stretch, Cabo Spirit rallied well for the place under Joe Bravo.  Off at 7-2 as well, he paid $4.40 and $5.20 while finishing one length in front of Beef Winslow.

Off at 9-1, Beef Winslow paid $10.00 to show and finished one length clear of Irish-bred Balnikhov, who tired through the lane.

Fractions on the race were 24.68, 49.56, 1:13.39 and 1:37.35.

Actor Al Kaplon, who gained international fame via his role as the referee in the hit movie Dodgeball, presented the Cinema trophy.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m.