Dabster goes long in Los Alamitos Special

CYPRESS, Calif. – Dabster, a $1 million purchase as a 2-year-old in 2016, won his first stakes in his eighth start in the $79,162 Harry Brubaker Stakes on Aug. 22 at Del Mar.

Jockey Joe Talamo rode Dabster for the first time in the Brubaker and was left impressed with Dabster’s determination in the one-mile race. Dabster fought for the lead and pulled clear in the final furlong.

“He loves to be in a dogfight,” Talamo recalled Friday. “When those horses came to him, he seemed to like it.”

Dabster beat three rivals in the Brubaker Stakes. On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Dabster will be part of a field of nine in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special at 1 1/4 miles. The new race is restricted to horses who have not won a first-place prize worth $50,000 or more at a mile or longer.

Dabster, who races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum of Dubai, earned $47,640 in the Brubaker. The Los Alamitos Special will be the longest race in Dabster’s career.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dabster, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 89-94-93

◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Dabster was fifth in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs June 23 at Santa Anita and third behind Catalina Cruiser in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 21 at Del Mar.

◗ Dabster led throughout the Brubaker, but Talamo is convinced the 4-year-old can be equally as effective as a stalker, particularly with a speedy rival such as Little Scotty in Sunday’s field.

“We can stalk him,” Talamo said. “That would be a great trip.”

◗ The distance does not concern Talamo. Dabster led by a half-length with a furlong remaining in the Brubaker and won by 1 1/2 lengths over the graded stakes winner Isotherm.

“Los Al is a bit quicker of a track than Del Mar,” Talamo said. “Even though it’s a mile and quarter, it may play like a mile and an eighth.”

Little Scotty, by Paddy O’Prado
Last 3 Beyers: 84-97-94

◗ Little Scotty led throughout an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Santa Anita in April. At Del Mar, Little Scotty was only fifth of seven in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles, fading in the final half-mile in his only start of the summer meeting.

Ya Gotta Wanna, by Proud Citizen
Last 3 Beyers: 97-87-88

◗ Ya Gotta Wanna has run on turf in all seven of his starts this year, winning three races. A gelding trained by Phil D’Amato, Ya Gotta Wanna was second, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 18.

“We’ll try him on the dirt and see if he can marathon on both surfaces,” D’Amato said. “The way the conditions are it’s a good spot to take a shot.”

Colonist, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 95-92-100

◗ The Los Alamitos Special is the 10th appearance in a stakes for Colonist, who was fourth in the Del Mar Handicap. Last April, Colonist was second by a neck in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.