Pace will undoubtedly be a key factor in Monday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile, as a field of seven sophomores duel on the turf in one of six graded stakes on Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day in Arcadia, Calif.
A dedicated deep closer, Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Balnikhov rallied from far off the pace to take the G3 Bryan Station Stakes by a neck going one mile on turf at Keeneland Oct. 29. Ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione, Balnikhov wheeled six-wide turning for home and weaved his way through traffic late to score impressively in a field of 12 sophomores over a firm turf.
Second going a mile on turf at Santa Anita in his U.S. debut in the ungraded Singletary Stakes six starts back on April 2, Balnikhov, who is three for four at one mile on grass, would obviously relish the prospect of a fast pace.
Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC and Old Bone Racing, LLC, Balnikhov, who came to Southern California as a gelding after winning three of his first eight starts in France, is 14-5-3-2 overall with earnings of $398,343.
Unbeaten in two starts at a mile on turf, Richard Mandella's Sumter, most recently third, beaten 2 ¼ lengths going five furlongs on turf in the ungraded Stormy Liberal Stakes Dec. 3 at Del Mar, has ample natural speed and solid credentials.
A close third three starts back going 1 1/16 miles on turf in Del Mar's G3 La Jolla Handicap Aug. 7, Sumter is a two-time turf stakes winner at Santa Anita at the one-mile distance, having won both the April 2 Singletary and Feb. 19 Pasadena Stakes.
A 3-year-old colt by top turf sire War Front, Sumter was bred in Kentucky by Bass Stables and is owned by Perry R. Bass II and Ramona Bass. Sumter, who is 9-3-2-2 overall, will be reunited with Mike Smith, who rode him to his Singletary victory and third place finish in the La Jolla Handicap.
GRADE II SANTA ANITA MATHIS MILE (TURF)
WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER
Race 1 of 11 Post time is 11 a.m. PT
1-Balnikhov—Tyler Gaffalione—122
2-One More Bid—Ramon Vazquez—120
3-I'm A Gambler—Flavien Prat—120
4-Time to Party—Joe Bravo—120
5-Agatino—Umberto Rispoli—120
6-Handy Dandy—Joel Rosario—122
7-Sumter—Mike Smith–122
Special early first post time on opening day, Monday, is at 11 a.m. PT with admission gates opening at 9 a.m. All attendees will receive Santa Anita's traditional wall calendar free with paid admission.
The post Mathis Mile Kicks Off Opening Day Card Of Santa Anita Classic Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
