Conquest Tsunami sets sizzling pace in winning Clocker's Corner

ARCADIA, Calif. – In four starts between late September and Jan. 19, Conquest Tsunami finished behind champion stablemates Roy H and Stormy Liberal in graded stakes in California and Kentucky. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Conquest Tsunami faced an easier task in the $76,624 Clocker’s Corner Stakes.

With Roy H, the champion sprinter of 2018, being prepared for a start in Dubai in March, and Stormy Liberal, the champion turf male of 2018, temporarily in Florida, Conquest Tsunami ended a seven-race losing streak with his first win in 11 months.

“It was nice to find him in some other company,” said Peter Miller, who trains the three runners.

Sent off favored, Conquest Tsunami ($4.80) set a torrid pace of 21.06 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 42.65 for a half-mile and finished about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:11.02. The course record of 1:10.73 was set by Eddie’s First in 2014.

Conquest Tsunami earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Conquest Tsunami led throughout. He held an advantage of as much as two lengths on the hillside and won by 4 1/4 lengths over 11-1 Cistron. Eddie Haskell finished third, followed by Secretary At War, Blended Citizen, Pubilius Syrus, Hunt, Calculator, and Regal Born.

Conquest Tsunami and Cistron met in the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course on Jan. 1, dueling for the lead before fading to finish third and fourth. Cistron could not keep pace with Conquest Tsunami early in the Clocker’s Corner.

“Last time, Cistron hooked him, and they both paid the price,” Miller said. “This time, we got the jump on him.”

The Clocker’s Corner Stakes was restricted to horses who had not won a graded stakes since July 1. Conquest Tsunami has started in four such races in that span. Last September, Conquest Tsunami was second by a head to Stormy Liberal in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes here. He was 11th behind Stormy Liberal in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in November.

Caribou Club won the Joe Hernandez Stakes, with Stormy Liberal second. On Jan. 19, Conquest Tsunami was third behind Roy H in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs on dirt. Miller said Conquest Tsunami rebounded quickly from that race.

“He had a lot of energy and felt good,” Miller said. “I said, ‘Let’s go.’ ”

Owned by Gary Barber, Conquest Tsunami has won 9 of 30 starts and earned $783,031. A 7-year-old gelding by Stormy Atlantic, Conquest Tsunami has won five stakes, including the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course last February.