Miller Looking At Pegasus After Anothertwistafate Triumphs In San Gabriel

Into the bridle and under restraint early, Anothertwistafate, in his second start for trainer Peter Miller, took command in mid-stretch en route to a 2 ¼-length score in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  Ridden by Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old son of Scat Daddy got a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf in 1:46.63.

A measured second, one length off early leader Bob and Jackie three furlongs out, Anothertwistafate reeled him in around the turn and took command approaching the sixteenth pole to win geared down.

“It was the first time with blinkers today and he broke really quick out of there,” said Rosario. “It looked like the other horse (Bob and Jackie) really wanted to go to the lead, so I had to just let it work out a little bit, let him sit off and he did, he was fine after I put him behind the other horse. He was good.

“Today having the blinkers on helped, he was more focused today. I never rode him before his last start, but he improved today.”

Originally based at Golden Gate Fields with Blaine Wright, Anothertwistafate came off a fourth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar Nov. 28 and was off at 5-2 in a field of seven older horses in the San Gabriel.  In his 10th overall start, he paid $7.60, $4.80 and $3.80.

Owned by Peter Redekop BC Ltd., Anothertwistafate, a full horse out of the First Defence mare Imprecation, notched his second graded stakes win and with the winner's share of $120,000, increased his earnings to $490,505.

“The first half mile, he was a little rank, then Joel got him to settle,” said Miller. “Joel recommended the blinkers after his last race.  He made the lead and was gawking around.  We wanted him to have a target (today).  This is my first win for Mr. Redekop.  It's a nice way to do it, in a Grade 2, $200,000.  We'll look at the Pegasus, both the turf and the dirt.  The dirt is more money, but obviously, there's tougher horses in there.”

Ridden by Heriberto Figueroa, Bob and Jackie held second by two lengths over Next Shares and paid $7.00 and $4.80 while off at 5-1.

Next Shares, who sat third throughout, held on by a nose over Multiplier and paid $4.40 to show with Jose Valdivia, Jr. up.

Even money favorite Count Again, who trailed throughout, was eased at the wire under Juan Hernandez, beaten by more than 20 lengths.

“Juan (Hernandez) said when he asked him, he didn't pursue,” said Count Again's trainer, Phil D'Amato.

Fractions on the race were 23.02, 46.95, 1:11.62 and 1:34.91.

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Count Again Will Try To Maintain Momentum In San Gabriel

Canadian-bred Count Again, fresh off the biggest win of his career in what was his first start for Phil D'Amato, will try to employ similar tactics under Juan Hernandez as he heads a field of seven older horses going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.

A 6-year-old gelding by Awesome Again, Count Again is one of five horses exiting the G2 Seabiscuit Stakes, which was run at a mile and one sixteenth over the Del Mar turf on Nov. 28. Previously headquartered in Toronto at Woodbine Racecourse, Count Again took a G3 turf stakes there three starts back at a mile and one quarter and should relish the added sixteenth of mile on Saturday. With four wins from eight starts, Count Again earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed figure in the Seabiscuit.

Peter Miller's Anothertwistafate, fourth as the 2-1 favorite with Joel Rosario in the Seabiscuit, will try to turn the tables on Count Again in what will be his second turf try. A lightly raced 5-year-old colt by Scat Daddy, he won the G3 Longacres Mile in his first start of 2020 on Sept 10. With Rosario riding him back in the San Gabriel, he'll be seeking his fifth win from 10 career starts.

Richard Baltas will be represented by a pair of horses coming off solid third place finishes, Bob and Jackie, who was third going a mile on turf in the G3 City of Hope Mile here Oct. 3, and the venerable Next Shares, who rallied to be third in the Seabiscuit at odds of 20-1.

Off the board in just two of eight starts, Bob and Jackie sat a close second early in the City of Hope and finished third, beaten three lengths while earning a career best 100 Beyer with Heriberto Figueroa, who has guided him to four wins from eight overall starts. A three-time minor stakes winner, this 5-year-old horse by Twirling Candy will seek his first graded win on Saturday.

Next Shares, an 8-year-old gelding by Archarcharch, rallied to be beaten 1 ½ lengths by Count Again in the Seabiscuit and must be respected as a late threat. A winner of the 2019 San Gabriel, Next Shares is the leading money earner in the field with $1,833,071 from an overall mark of 36-7-5-4.

THE GRADE II SAN GABRIEL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m.

  1. Cleopatra's Strike—Kent Desormeaux—120
  2. Next Shares—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—120
  3. Bob and Jackie—Heriberto Figueroa—120
  4. Multiplier—Abel Cedillo—120
  5. Count Again—Juan Hernandez—124
  6. Anothertwistafate—Joel Rosario—122
  7. Bowies Hero—Flavien Prat—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager at 1st.com/Bet.

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Anothertwistafate Dominates Grade 3 Longacres Mile

Anothertwistafate made a triumphant return to action Thursday evening at Emerald Downs, returning from a 16-month layoff and powering to a 4½-length victory over Five Star General in the 85th running of the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3).

Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 118 lbs, Anothertwistafate ran the mile in 1:34.10 and paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.60 as the betting favorite. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for owner Peter Redekop of Vancouver, B.C.

It is the first Mile victory for Wright and Redekop—runner-up the last two years with Alert Bay and Anyportinastorm—and third Mile victory for Gutierrez, who swept both stakes Thursday and is just 13 wins from tying Gallyn Mitchell's all-time track record of 1,419 wins.

Stalking early fractions of :22.71, :45.21 and 1:08.74 set by Papa's Golden Boy, Anothertwistafate took command three deep into the stretch and drew off to win with total authority. It was the colt's first start since a 10th in the 2019 Preakness and capped a superb training job by Wright, 46, who brought Anothertwistafate into the race off a series of works at Golden Gate Fields.

“The first thing is to congratulate Mr. Peter Redekop and my entire crew here and at Golden Gate,” Wright said. “A Lot of people have asked me if this is the best horse I've trained, and he's been hot and cold with some health issues, but he's a very nice horse.”

Wright also praised Gutierrez who previously won the Mile on No Giveaway in 2005 and The Great Face in 2007.

“The race worked out just the way we scripted it this morning, Juan (Gutierrez) did a great job.” Wright said. “When we couldn't bring our rider (to Emerald Downs) there was no hesitation to ride Juan. He rode his 2,000th winner this year and is a great speed rider on this track. He fit this horse perfectly.”

A Kentucky-bred by Scat Daddy, Anothertwistafate earned $55,000 to push his career bankroll to $358,505. His overall mark is 4-2-0 in eight starts, including a victory in the El Camino Real Derby and seconds last year in the Sunland Derby and Keeneland's Lexington Stakes.

Canadian shipper Five Star General, ridden by two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez at 122 lbs, finished a clear second and paid $3.20 and $2.60 as second choice in the wagering. The runner-up is owned and trained by Glen Todd, giving Vancouver owners the top two finishers in the 2020 Mile.

The Press, a 46 to 1 long shot ridden by Jennifer Whitaker at 114 lbs, rallied for third and paid $4.60 to show. Whitaker won the 2008 Mile on Wasserman and remains the only woman rider ever to win the race.

Elliott Bay, winner of the Mt. Rainier Stakes last month, rallied from last to finish fourth and was followed by Papa's Golden Boy, Makah Lane, La Waun, Hollywood Heat and Take Charge Deputy.

Eddie Martinez, rider of Elliott Bay, claimed foul against The Press, alleging interference into the backstretch, but the stewards made no change in the order of finish.

He's the Reason, 5 to 1 third choice on the morning line and stablemate of Five Star General, was scratched earlier in the day.

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Anothertwistafate Returns From Layoff In Thursday’s Longacres Mile

Ten older horses led by Peter Redekop's Anothertwistafate have been entered in the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3), to be run Thursday, Sept. 10, at Emerald Downs.

The 85th renewal of the Northwest's premier event goes as Race 8 at 8:30 p.m.

Unraced since a 10th in the 2019 Preakness, Anothertwistafate is the 8 to 5 morning line favorite in the Longacres Mile. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Scat Daddy, Anothertwistafate was among the nation's top 3-year-olds last year, finishing second in both the Sunland Derby (G3) and Lexington Stakes (G3) and winning the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby by seven lengths. Trained by Blaine Wright, Anothertwistafate is 3-2-0 in seven lifetime starts with $303,505 in earnings. The dark bay colt capped a strong series of works with a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 last Sunday at Golden Gate.

“Everything has gone well, our horse has worked lights out,” Wright said via phone from California. “His six furlong works are like a mile, he gallops out strongly.”

Wright has been the leading stakes trainer the last three seasons at Emerald Downs, amassing 30 stakes wins here since 2017. The Mile, however, has eluded his grasp. There have been some close calls, including runner-up finishes by Alert Bay in 2018 and Anyportinastorm, who missed by a head to Law Abidin Citizen in 2019.

Wright says winning the Longacres Mile is a big deal for anyone in Northwest racing.

“I think everyone involved in this race would say the same thing, that winning the Mile means a lot,” Wright said. “It means a lot to me, Mr. Redekop, and everyone in the race.”

Wright is adept at returning horses from layoffs, winning with 19 of 69 horses that have been sidelined 180 days or more. In 2018, Wright brought millionaire Alert Bay back from a 13-month break to finish second in the Longacres Mile.

Anothertwistafate drew the No. 4 post-position and will be ridden by two-time Longacres Mile-winning jockey Juan Gutierrez.

Five Star General and He's the Reason, both from Canada, are 9 to 2 and 5 to 1 on the morning line. Five Star General captured the 2019 British Columbia Derby and is two for two at a mile, while He's the Reason is a multiple stakes winner in Vancouver. Both are owned and trained by Glen Todd, whose Princess of Cairo stunned previously unbeaten Daffodil Sweet in the Washington Oaks earlier this week.

Five Star General, co starting high-weight with He's the Reason at 122 lbs., is ridden by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez, two for two in the Mile with wins on Taylor Said in 2012 and Point Piper in 2016.

Elliott Bay at 8 to 1 appears the top local threat. The lone returnee from the 2019 Longacres Mile, the 5-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding is unbeaten in two starts at the meet and also boasts the track's hottest connections. Eddie Martinez leads all jockeys with four stakes wins in 2020 while trainer Frank Lucarelli and owners Chad Christensen and Josh McKee have combined for four stakes wins at the meet: two by 2-year-old filly sensation Time for Gold and one each by Elliott Bay and Gold Crusher, the latter taking the $40,000 Muckleshoot Derby earlier this week.

Papa's Golden Boy and Take Charge Deputy, second and third to Elliott Bay in the Mt. Rainier, are 10 to 1 and 12 to 1. For sheer speed, Papa's Golden Boy is the fastest horse at Emerald Downs. His quarter and half-mile fractions in three races this year are otherworldly: :21 1/5 & 44 1/5 , :21 1/5 & :43 1/5, :21 3/5 & :43. The question, of course, is distance. Thursday will be his first try around two turns, but it was encouraging that younger brother Gold Crusher easily won the Muckleshoot Derby at a mile and sixteenth. In two starts this year, Take Charge Deputy defeated Barkley in an allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs and finished third in the Mt. Rainier at 6 1/2 furlongs. A 5-year-old gelding, Take Charge Deputy is three for six at the distance including a victory in the final edition of the Portland Meadows Mile.

Makah Lane, La Waun, The Press and Hollywood Heat all figure to go off at big odds.

Makah Lane won the one-mile Washington Cup Sophomore as a 3-year-old and began this year with a sharp allowance win opening day, but failed to fire while finishing fifth in the Mt. Rainier. La Waun is a a hard-hitting 5-year-old with 10 wins from 36 starts, but The Mile represents a big step up in class and his lone route win was vs. $12,500 claimers on a synthetic surface.

The Press is sharp and can get the distance; he beat Mach One Rules at a mile in the 2016 Washington Cup. He also is stepping up in class, but trainer Howard Belvoir has won the Longacres Mile three times at Emerald Downs. Hollywood Heat produced a $105.60 upset in allowance company last month, but was drilled by Elliott Bay on July 2 and has never raced farther than six furlongs.

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