Bombard wins stakes debut in Siren Lure

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bombard has had a career disrupted twice by injury.

When Bombard is at his best, however, he has displayed outstanding performances. On Sunday in his stakes debut, Bombard won the $89,490 Siren Lure Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Ridden by leading jockey Flavien Prat, Bombard ($9.60) was always near the front and won by a half-length over 9-1 Cistron. Perfectly Majestic (7-1) rallied through traffic from the back of the field to finish third.

Bombard ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.38. Prat and trainer Richard Mandella discussed a strategy that played out in favor of Bombard – to stay near the front.

“We thought we’d let him break and get comfortable where he’s at,” Mandella said.

Tiz a Billy set a quick pace of 21.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.14 for a half-mile while closely followed by Acceptance. Bombard raced two or three lengths behind Tiz a Billy through the first half-mile, took the lead in early stretch, and held a narrow advantage over Cistron with a furlong remaining.

B Squared, the 2-1 favorite who won the Thor’s Echo Stakes in April, finished fourth, followed by Anatolian Heat, Double Touch, Tiz a Billy, Comma Sister, Gold Rush Dancer, Acceptance, and Mongolian Shopper.

Bombard, a 5-year-old gelding by War Front, has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $204,080 for owners and breeders Claiborne Farm, Ramona and Perry Bass, and Adele Dilschneider. Bombard debuted in April 2016 and has won at distances ranging from about 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, all on turf.

Bombard has won 3 of 5 starts on the hillside turf course.

“He’s really been improving since he’s been running down the hill,” Prat said. “He just keeps moving forward.”

Bombard had had breaks of nine months and 11 months in his career to have bone chips removed from his knee, Mandella said. This summer, Bombard will be considered for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf Aug. 19, Mandella said.