Dalmore changes hands, but still a candidate for the Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Dalmore, a Grade 3 stakes winner in 2016, was bought privately by Ron Paolucci last week and has been transferred from trainer Keith Desormeaux to Bob Hess Jr. in advance of an expected start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10.

The deal was completed days after Dalmore won an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles by 8 1/2 lengths on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita in his first start since last summer.

“I’ve watched him and become a fan,” Hess said. “I was blown away with his win the other day.”

Sunday, Hess said a potential start for Dalmore in the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap hinges on the thoughts of jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has ridden Dalmore frequently in the last two years.

“A lot it will depends on what Kent tells us about the horse,” Hess said.

Hess declined to state the purchase price, describing the transaction as “enough.”

Dalmore has won 4 of 20 starts and earned $354,292. He was previously owned by a partnership that included Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, Rocker O Ranch, and Keith Desormeaux.

Dalmore won the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds here in July 2016 and was later second in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in September 2016.

Dalmore is one of nine probable starters for the Big Cap along with Accelerate, Fear the Cowboy, Giant Expectations, Hoppertunity, Mubtaahij, Pavel, Prime Attraction, and Top of the Game. The race is run at 1 1/4 miles.

Fear the Cowboy, fourth in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, is the only shipper among the projected starters in the Santa Anita Handicap, the year’s richest race for older horses at Santa Anita.

Hess said that Imperative, winner of the Charles Town Classic last April in his most recent start, has resumed training after a winter break. Imperative was a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar last November, but was taken out of training a week before the race because of concern over his pelvis, Hess said at the time.

“He’s back at the barn and doing well,” Hess said. “He’s healthy and happy.”