Coastline extends D'Amato's hot hand in Clocker's Corner

ARCADIA, Calif. - Coastline gave trainer Phil D’Amato his fourth stakes win of the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita in Sunday’s $79,250 Clocker’s Corner Stakes.

No other trainer has more than one.

Coastline ($12.20) caught pacesetter Rocket Heat in the final sixteenth to win the race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course by 1 1/4 lengths. Rocket Heat, the 5-2 favorite, held second, finishing a half-length in front of the D’Amato-trained Cape Wolfe, an import from Ireland who was 13-1.

Earlier at this meeting, D’Amato won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes with Toowindytohaulrox on Dec. 26, the Kalookan Queen Stakes with Sunday Rules on Dec. 30, and the Astra Stakes with Havanna Belle on Jan. 17.

Coastline was timed in 1:12.68.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Coastline was third on the hillside and into early stretch of the main turf course. Rocket Heat set torrid fractions of 20.98 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 42.82 for a half-mile, leading by as many as 3 1/2 lengths. Rocket Heat led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go, but tired in the final sixteenth as Coastline drew closer.

Bench Warrant, an 11-1 shot, finished fourth, followed by Ocho Ocho Ocho, Holy Lute, Silentio, County Lineman, Home Run Kitten, and Fleet Eagle.

Coastline races for Jaam Racing and Agave Racing. A 5-year-old horse by Speightstown, Coastline has won 5 of 19 starts and earned $336,806.

Coastline was claimed for $62,500 at Keeneland in October. Third behind Wee Miss Artie in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in 2014, Coastline joined D’Amato’s stable last fall. In his debut in California, Coastline finished second at 52-1 in the Daytona on the hillside turf course.

D’Amato said in the winner’s circle on Sunday that he may try Coastline in one-mile turf races in coming months.