Brandothebartender, Rispoli find winner's circle in Sensational Star

ARCADIA, Calif. - Before Sunday’s $101,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita, Brandothebartender was winless in 14 stakes appearances since the California Flag Handicap in October 2018, a span that included a remarkable 10 third-place finishes.

Back then, jockey Umberto Rispoli was riding in Hong Kong. Rispoli relocated to Southern California in late 2019 and rode Brandothebartender for the first time in January 2020.

On Sunday, Rispoli rode Brandothebartender for the ninth time in the Sensational Star for statebreds, and won for the first time aboard the 8-year-old gelding with a wide rally.

Closing from the back of a field of seven, Brandothebartender ($7.40) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 4-1 Jamming Eddy. Desmond Doss, the 3-1 third choice, had a troubled trip through the stretch and finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

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Brandothebartender ran six furlongs on turf in 1:08.51 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Jetovator, the 9-5 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Royal Trump, Prodigal Son, and Margot’s Boy.

Rispoli has ridden Brandothebartender in four of his five starts at the current winter-spring meeting, including a third by a neck in the Tiznow Stakes for statebreds at a mile on dirt on Feb. 28. The close finish alone was frustrating for Rispoli, along with a three-day suspension for overuse of the whip in that race.

In the Sensational Star, Brandothebartender was well behind Jetovator, who set an early pace of 21.44 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.67 for a half-mile.

“When they made the pace for him, it set up nicely,” Rispoli said. “The key was being on the outside and getting a clear run without any trouble. When he made the lead, he was looking around.”

Brandothebartender has won 7 of 42 starts and has earned $608,364 against Thoroughbreds. On Dec. 19, Brandothebartender won an allowance race against Quarter Horses at 1,000 yards at Los Alamitos, his only career start in such a race.

By Tribal Rule, Brandothebartender races for the partnership of Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan, and Michael Jarvis and trainer Craig Dollase.

Brandothebartender was claimed for $40,000 in August 2018 .