Adding intrigue to Saturday's nine-race card at Santa Anita Park, which is highlighted by the Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine on turf, is the return of $1.7-million auction buy Ultimate Gamble in a one-mile maiden race on the main track for trainer Mark Glatt.
Ultimate Gamble was purchased last year by owner Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal at the OBS April 2-year-olds in Training Sale. He commanded the second-highest price at the sale behind only Arabian Knight, who sold for $2.3 million. Arabian Knight has since gone 2-for-2 on the track, which includes a win in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn on Jan. 28, for owner Zedan Racing and trainer Bob Baffert. Arabian Knight is currently out of training with plans to return for a summer campaign.
Ultimate Gamble made his one and only start on Aug. 13 at Del Mar when going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. In his bow, Ultimate Gamble hooked a field that included Cave Rock and Practical Move, both of whom would go on to be multiple graded stakes winners.
At Del Mar, Ultimate Gamble stalked pacesetter Cave Rock while second along the inside before weakening to finish fourth. Cave Rock would be a six-length winner over runner-up Practical Move.
Ultimate Gamble is a dark brown colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Ghostzapper mare Eltimaas, which makes him a half brother to 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong. He has worked six times for his sophomore bow, which includes three straight six-furlong drills. Last Saturday, Ultimate Gamble worked the distance from the gate in 1:13.20.
“He's doing really well and we're pleased with how he's coming into the race,” Glatt said Thursday. “He's a big, beautiful horse. Probably a little too big to be a really effective 2-year-old. He just needed some time to fill out, which he has. We'll see what he can do on Saturday.”
Ultimate Gamble, who will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, is the 8-5 second choice on the morning line behind Textthelegend in Saturday's fourth race. The card kicks off at 1 p.m.
The field in post position order:
- Palagio, Joe Bravo (7-2);
- Lift Off, Mike Smith (6-1);
- Texthelegend, Juan Hernandez (8-5);
- Ultimate Gamble, Frankie Dettori (9-5);
- Seventeen Black, Umberto Rispoli (12-1);
- Flat On, Ramon Vazquez(8-1).
The post $1.7 Million OBS April Buy Ultimate Gamble Returns In Saturday Maiden Race At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
