Blitzkrieg breaks through in San Francisco Mile

ALBANY, Calif. – Blitzkrieg, claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 19, continues to pay returns for his new connections.

He extended his winning streak to four on Saturday when he powered his way to victory in the Grade 3, $251,500 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

Many Roses, who had run third in the past two running of the one-mile turf stakes, set the pace again, but the 6-year-old gelding, who had been off for nearly 11 months, was done on the second turn.

Blitzkrieg ($8) had settled comfortably off the pace and was ready to roar as Many Roses faded.

"He just felt so comfortable under me," said winning rider Rafael Bejarano. "At the three-eighths, he started to get into the bit, and in the lane, he just kept going."

River Boyne, a narrowly beaten fourth under Bejarano last out in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, ranged up into the lane, but Blitzkrieg always looked a winner as the field raced to the wire.

His winning time was 1:35.56 as he defeated River Boyne by 1 1/2 lengths. Choo Choo was third, another length back.

Bejarano credited trainer Doug O'Neill and assistant trainer Leandro Mora for having Blitzkrieg well prepared. Bejarano also piloted Sold It to victory for Team O'Neill in the California Oaks earlier on the card.

Mora said the Jan. 19 claim was made in large part because of Blitzkrieg's pedigree. He's the son of War Front, whose stallion fee for 2019 is $250,00.

"It was the $25,000 [claiming price] that attracted us," said Mora.

Mora said the addition of a shadow roll was helping the 4-year-old gelding focus better.

After watched Blitzkrieg win two more turf sprints down the hill at Santa Anita following the claim, Mora said he urged O'Neill to enter him in the San Francisco Mile.

"We weren't concerned about the distance because he broke his maiden at a mile," Mora said.

Blitzkrieg earned $150,000 for owners R3 Racing, Calara Farms, and Steve Rothblum. His career earnings are now $242,746.

Kingly holds on in California Derby

Earlier, Kingly, the runner-up to Anothertwistafate in the El Camino Real Derby, got a dream trip and had enough left in the lane to withstand a late challenge by Visitant to with the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 California Derby.

As expected, recent Aqueduct maiden winner Erlich opened a wide early lead through fractions of 23.40 seconds, 46.82, and 1:10.94 before tiring badly.

Kingly, sitting in a good spot just behind Erlich, moved up to take control but then faced a challenge by Visitant down the lane.

Try as he might, Visitant couldn't pull even with Kingly, losing the fast race by a half-length, as the winner refused to give in.

"I was a little concerned," said winning jockey Mario Gutierrez, "But he was looking at [Visitant] all the time and kept pushing all the way to the wire."

More Ice wound up third. The winner completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.73 and returned $5.40.

The Bob Baffert-trained Kingly earned $60,000 for his first stakes victory and now has earned $123,200 with two wins and two seconds in four starts.

► Lost in the Fog Stakes: Favored Anyportinastorm ($4.20), got a perfect stalking trip and easily won the six-furlong stakes in 1:08.80, the fastest time of the year at the distance. He beat the game pacesetter Algenon by 3 1/2 lengths.