Conclude noses First Peace in Desert Code Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - A fit and well Conclude held off a determined threat from First Peace to record a nose win in Sunday’s $100,500 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
The two met in the John Shear Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on April 9, when Conclude finished a quiet fourth of eight at 3-5 in a race won by 4-1 First Peace. In the days following the Shear Stakes, Conclude was diagnosed with an illness, trainer Phil D’Amato said last Friday.
Conclude showed he was in ideal condition through the Desert Code Stakes, leading from the start and holding on by the slimmest of margins under jockey Juan Hernandez to score his first stakes win in his fourth career start.
“I think he likes to run like that,” Hernandez said of the tactics.
Conclude ($5.40) set a rapid pace of 21.25 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 42.50 seconds on the hillside turf course, leading by as much as a length. First Peace tracked Conclude on the hillside and moved outside of the lead when the field crossed on to the main turf course.
First Peace, the 11-10 favorite, had every chance to go past Conclude through the stretch under Mike Smith, but could not get in front.
“I felt like I had a lot of horse,” Hernandez said. “The other horse came next to me. He responded. My horse came back. He’s a fighter.”
Conclude was timed in 1:11.25 for the distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.
Ransomware (17-1) closed from last in a field of six to finish third, followed by Mas Rapido, Valiancer and Acquired Class.
Conclude races for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stable, and Brereton Jones. By Collected, Conclude was bred in Kentucky by Jones.
In the winner’s circle, D’Amato said Conclude is a candidate for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on July 21, the opening day of the track’s summer meeting.
Conclude was D’Amato’s third stakes winner of the weekend nationwide, all for Little Red Feather. On Saturday, they teamed to win the Jim McKay Turf Sprint with Beer Can Man at Pimlico and the Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita with Elm Drive.
Little Red Feather also won the James Murphy Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday with Nagirroc, who is trained by Graham Mortion.
Conclude has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $119,600.
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