Bran makes Siren Lure first U.S. victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nearly six months after he was shipped from France to California, Bran won his first stakes in Sunday’s $80,350 Siren Lure Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Bran ($7) stalked 7-2 pacesetter Cotopaxi to the final furlong and won by a half-length, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.82.

The Siren Lure Stakes was Bran’s fourth start in the United States and first win.

“He’s improving and acclimating to America,” trainer John Sadler said. “He looks like a hard-trying horse.”

Cotopaxi, who was claimed for $50,000 in January, finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of 8-1 Delaware. Indian Peak, the 9-5 favorite, and Kanderel completed the order of finish in the small field.

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Cotopaxi set an early pace of 23.79 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.60 for a half-mile, leading by as many as 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.

Bran, a 4-year-old Muhaarar gelding owned by Hronis Racing, has won 5 of 17 starts and earned $194,392.

In France, Bran was a four-time winner in 2021, including consecutive allowance races at about seven furlongs at Deauville last August and Toulouse in September. In his final start in that country, Bran was fourth behind Egot in the minor Prix Matchem Stakes at Saint-Cloud Racecourse last October. Egot has since won two more stakes.

In California, Bran was third in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes in his American debut in January, fifth in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes in February, and second in an allowance race on March 25.

The Siren Lure was Rispoli’s third stakes win of the weekend. He is relocating to Kentucky to ride on a full-time basis this week.

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