Ambitious Brew, with Eddie D win, may head for BC Turf Sprint
ARCADIA, Calif. - Two years ago, Ambitious Brew finished second by a nose in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. In Friday’s sixth race, the 6-year-old gelding finally won his first graded stakes in the first division of the $101,725 Eddie D Stakes.
Ambitious Brew ($13.20) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.57, finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of Richard’s Boy, a 6-1 shot. Hunt, the 5-2 second choice, finished third.
The win left trainer Marty Jones considering the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here on Nov. 5 for Ambitious Brew, who was seventh in the 2014 BC Turf Sprint here.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Ambitious Brew was always well placed and dueled with Richard’s Boy through the stretch before gaining an advantage. Ambitious Brew was fourth on the hillside and was third when the field crossed onto the main turf course.
“He gave him such a good trip,” Jones said of Smith. “He was able to break and get comfortable.”
Owned by Pamela Ziebarth, Ambitious Brew has won 3 of 14 starts in stakes and 7 of 20 starts in his career. He won two stakes for California-breds in 2015 and 2016.
“He’s such a good horse,” Jones said. “I’m embarrassed that this is his first win in a graded stakes.”
The disappointment in the field was Lady Shipman, a five-time stakes winner this year at Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, Woodbine, and Parx Racing. Lady Shipman was fifth early in the race and finished sixth as the 8-5 favorite. She was beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Ambitious Brew.