MANDELLA’S SUMTER HOLDS ON TO WIN BY A NOSE OVER EURO-INVADER BALNIKHOV IN $100,000 SINGLETARY STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 2, 2022)–In a desperate finish, Richard Mandella’s speedy Sumter held off talented Irish-bred invader Balnikhov by a nose in Saturday’s $100,000 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, Sumter got a flat mile on turf in 1:34.65.
With none of the five sophomores in any apparent hurry in the run to the first turn, Smith seized the initiative as the field turned up the backside and opened up by about three lengths with a half mile to run. Longshot Durante drew to his flank a quarter mile out, but Sumter spurted clear again and just prevailed the onrushing charge of both Balnikhov and Handy Dandy at the wire.
“He’s a quick horse, there’s no question about that,” said Mandella. “It looked like nobody really knew who was going to go or not and when they got around the turn, Mike just decided to go. Very happy with the way he did it and we’ll probably look at that race (at Churchill Downs) on Derby Day at a mile and a sixteenth on grass (Grade II American Turf).”
A five furlong maiden turf winner at Del Mar Nov. 14 and most recently a gate to wire winner of the one mile turf Pasadena Stakes here on Feb. 19, Sumter was off as the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10.
“In going into the first turn, he runs on his left lead really, really well and you can use that to your advantage sometimes, especially (with) good milers,” said Smith. “…on the second turn, he ran it really, really well. He reminded me a lot of a horse called Lure that I used to ride, their left lead is so good. We were able to hold on…There were some really good horses coming at us.”
A colt by War Front out of the More Than Ready mare A Little Bit Sassy, Sumter is owned by Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass and is bred by their Bass Stables, LLC. A two-time stakes winner, he’s now 6-3-2-0. With the winner’s share of $60,000, Sumter increased his earnings to $189,600.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Balnikhov, who won his last two starts in France, most recently on Dec. 22, had trained well on Santa Anita’s inner training oval and in huge performance under Juan Hernandez, rallied resolutely in a heartbreaker. Off at 7-2, he paid $3.60 and $2.10 while finishing a head clear of Handy Dandy.
Off at 5-2 with Ryan Curatolo, Handy Dandy finished three-wide and paid $2.10 to show while 3 ¾ lengths clear of Durante.
Fractions on the Singletary were 22.88, 46.70, 1:10.50 and 1:22.41.
Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Sunday at 1 p.m.
