Anothertwistafate finds turf a good fit, wins San Gabriel

ARCADIA, Calif. – Anothertwistafate has won stakes on dirt and synthetic, but he may have found a home, at least for now, on turf.

In his second start on grass and second since owner Peter Redekop sent him to trainer Peter Miller, Anothertwistafate on Saturday at Santa Anita won the Grade 2, $201,000 San Gabriel Stakes for older grass runners, a victory that might move him on to the Pegasus Turf later this month at Gulfstream.

Anothertwistafate ($7.60), the second choice, stalked pacesetter Bob and Jackie for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile grass race, surged to the front in upper stretch, and went on to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths. Bob and Jackie safely held second, two lengths to the best of Next Shares.

Multiplier was fourth, and was followed, in order, by Bowie’s Hero, Cleopatra’s Strike, and even-money favorite Count Again, who trailed throughout and was virtually eased in the final furlong.

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Juan Hernandez, who rode Count Again, told trainer Phil D’Amato that Count Again did not persevere when asked. D’Amato said he would examine Count Again at the barn with an endoscope to see if he had bled, a fear many trainers here have had now that all stakes are being run without Lasix.

In fact, Miller said Texas Wedge, who finished fourth in the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez for turf sprinters on Friday – a race Miller won with another starter, Hembree – bled in the race and would be turned out.

“It’s frustrating,” he said.

Anothertwistafate had raced nine times previously, all on Lasix. In his first start for Miller, in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar on Nov. 28, he finished fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Count Again. Joel Rosario rode him for the first time that day, and suggested to Miller that they try blinkers. Anothertwistafate wore blinkers for the first time Saturday.

“He said when he made the lead his ears were flopping around,” Miller said of the Seabiscuit.

Anothertwistafate finished off the San Gabriel fully focused. He polished off 1 1/8 miles on the firm course in 1:46.63 while covering the final three furlongs in 35 seconds.

The win was the fifth in 10 starts for Anothertwistafate, whose biggest previous score came in September, when trainer Blaine Wright brought him off a layoff of more than 15 months to win the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. Redekop then sent the horse to Miller.

Now age 5, Anothertwistafate – by Scat Daddy – has earned $490,505, including $120,000 from the San Gabriel.

Miller said the Pegasus Turf would be considered for Anothertwistafate after talking to Redekop.