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Pick Pony | Oct. 7, 2024, 1:58 p.m.
IRON MAN CAL WINS GIII, $100,000 ZUMA BEACH AFTER LATE BUMP LEADS TO DISQUALIFICATION OF ARTISLAS
It was a wild finish to the GIII, $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds Sunday at Santa Anita.
Artislas (4-1), the lone stakes winner in the field with Reylu Gutierrez up, got his head down on the wire to prevail in a three-way photo over favorite Iron Man Cal (6-5 ) and Sabertooth (4-1). But a late bump from Artislas, which nearly caused Antonio Fresu on Iron Man Cal to be dismounted, led to him being disqualified and Iron Man Cal being awarded the win.
“I thought the bump I received cost me a lot,” Fresu said. “He is a lightly raced horse, only had two races. He got scared and kind of stopped. You could tell by my body language I was knocked off balance. I think it cost me.”
Artislas, winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in his previous start for trainer Jeff Mullins, crossed the wire a head in front in the one-mile turf race. He was demoted to third place behind the winner and Sabretooth. Final time of the race was 1:34.45 following fractions of 22.73, 46.59, 1:10.66 and 1:22.47.
Iron Man Cal is trained by Phil D’Amato for owners Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables.
“I’m definitely proud of my horse. He was bounced around there,” D’Amato said. “Antonio almost got knocked out of the saddle. But the horse hung in there tough.”
The promotion of Iron Man Cal to the win capped a huge weekend for trainer Phil D’Amato. Four races earlier, favorite Thought Process scored for D’Amato in the GIII Surfer Girl for 2-year-old fillies going a mile on turf. On Saturday at Santa Anita, D’Amato won both the GII Rodeo Drive with Hang the Moon and the GIII Chillingworth with One Magic Philly.
“It was a great weekend,” D’Amato said. “It is just a credit to a having great horses and great staff. We hope we can keep it rolling.”
Notably, Iron Man Cal and Thought Process were sired by Collected and bred by the late Brereton C. Jones, former governor of Kentucky.
As for Iron Man Cal, next up is likely a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Iron Man Cal paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.20. Sabertooth, ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Tim Yakteen, returned $3.80 and $2.60. Artislas paid $2.60.
Iron Man Cal finished fourth in debut sprinting five furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 2. He was then stretched out to a mile on grass and won going away by 2 ¼ lengths Sept. 7 at Del Mar. His first stakes win ups his record to 3: 2-0-1 with $109,500 in earnings.
ODDS-ON THOUGHT PROCESS EARNS DOMINANT VICTORY IN SUNDAY’S GIII, $100,000 SURFER GIRL STAKES FOR 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA
Thought Process went to the lead under Hector Berrios and was never challenged on her way to a comfortable front-running win in Sunday’s GIII, $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Taking command early was a new dimension for Thought Process, who came from slightly off the pace in her previous two wins including last month’s Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf last month. The new tactic wasn’t by design. Berrios and trainer Phil D’Amato each expected Casalu, the 9-1 third choice with Kazushi Kimura up, to go to the front early.
“I thought (Casalu) would go to the lead. Then I saw Kimura grab the filly, so I said, ‘Let’s go,” Berrios noted. “She went really comfortably.”
Thought Process went the opening quarter mile in 23.17 seconds, a half mile in 47.69 and six furlongs in 1:11.43 for six furlongs before crossing the wire under a hand ride to win by 4 ½ lengths. The final time for one mile on firm turf was 1:34.34.
Casalu, trained by Bob Baffert, finished second by a half-length over Tigerish (16-1) in third.
“The plan was we thought Bob’s horse was going to the lead again, so we were going to sit second,” D’Amato said. “I don’t think he was intent on having his filly go to the lead today. Hector smartly just took the lead and went the shortest way around.
Thought Process will now target the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
“I was just very impressed with her,” D’Amato said. “It looks like there’s more in the tank. I’m sure when we go to the Breeders’ Cup she will definitely need more in the tank.”
By Collected, Thought Process graduated in her second start Aug. 17 at Del Mar when being switched to turf and stretched out to a mile. Next up was the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, also at a mile, which she won handily by two lengths under Berrios.
Thought Process was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones. She is owned by Madaket Stables, Little Red Feather Racing and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. She is now 4: 3-0-1 with $174,000 in earnings.
Thought Process paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Casalu returned $4.40 and $2.60. Tigerish, ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Richard Baltas, paid $3.00.