Country Grammer, Thoroughbred racing's leading active money earner with $11.1 million, dominated five rivals in taking Monday's $200,000 San Antonio (G2) with European-based superstar jockey Frankie Dettori aboard and thus set the stage for a return to the Middle East, where he finished second in the $20-million Saudi Cup and was victorious in the $12-million Dubai World Cup earlier this year.
Attentive to the pace while hung four-deep around the first turn, Country Grammer, who was reunited with Dettori for the first time since his win in Dubai four starts back on March 26, took command three-wide at the quarter pole under aggressive handling, and was long gone three-sixteenths of a mile from home in a rousing win.
Most recently a close second to stablemate Defunded here in the Awesome Again (G1) Oct. 1, Country Grammer was off at 3-5 and paid $3.20.
Owned by Commonwealth Thoroughbreds LLC, Winstar Farm LLC and Zedan Racing Stables Inc., Country Grammer, a 5-year-old by Tonalist out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, is now 5-5-1 from 14 starts. With the San Antonio's winner's share of $120,000, he boosted his earnings to $11,277,320.
Stilleto Boy, who sat second to pacesetter Hopkins to the quarter pole, put a short head in front for an instant, but was immediately vanquished by the winner while finishing second, 3 ½ lengths clear of Heywoods Beach.
Fractions on the race were :22.76, :46.16, 1:10.35 and 1:36.57.
SAN ANTONIO (G2) STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
FRANKIE DETTORI, COUNTRY GRAMMER, WINNER: “I'm spending the winter here and on day one riding here, on one of the best horses in the world, the pressure was on. I felt it but the horse was in great form, and I was able to enjoy the scream of the crowd and it is nice to be back at Santa Anita. What a place! What a crowd, it's amazing.
“Thirty-five years went like a flash. I've got to make these last 12 months the best that I can and enjoy it. Most of all I've had a great career, and this is where it all started, and this is where it will finish.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, COUNTRY GRAMMER, WINNER: “This horse is training better than he ever has, and he likes a deeper racetrack. This horse has brought us so much joy when things were down. He always shows up. It was nice of Frankie Dettori to win one like that. He's such a great rider, and it's his last year to be part of it. I'm just blessed the owners gave me the horse to train, and I have a great staff backing me.”
PRESENTER QUOTES
DWIGHT YOAKAM, COUNTRY STAR, TROPHY PRESENTOR OF SAN ANTONIO STAKES: “I'm excited to be here. Our family home is here in Southern California and what do you do the day after Christmas? You go to Opening Day at Santa Anita. It's the fun thing to do. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old son and he loves the horses. We keep three back home including my wife's jumper and a trail horse. We tried to breed a Mr. Prospector, but he bowed a tendon. I had racehorses in the 90's. I had a horse at Hollywood Park, and he won a mile turf race at 83-1. That was quite a thrill.”
The post ‘This Horse Has Brought Us So Much Joy When Things Were Down’: Dettori Guides Baffert-Trained Country Grammer To San Antonio Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
