Dalmore possible for Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Dalmore’s emphatic win in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday has trainer Keith Desormeaux thinking of starting him in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10.

In his first start since July, Dalmore ($11.80) led throughout Thursday’s race at 1 1/16 miles under jockey Kent Desormeux to win by 8 1/2 lengths over Cat Burglar.

Dalmore was rested last summer after a series of poor performances. Owned by the partnership of Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, Rocker O Ranch, and Keith Desormeaux, Dalmore has won 4 of 20 starts and earned $354,292. A 5-year-old gelding, Dalmore won the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita in 2016.

“To see him persevere after tough 2- and 3-year-old seasons, it’s very rewarding,” Keith Desormeaux said. “You wonder if they still have that desire.”

Desormeaux said Dalmore may be best at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/16 miles. The $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap is run at 1 1/4 miles. In his only start at 1 1/4 miles, Dalmore was fifth of nine in the Pacific Classic in 2016 behind California Chrome, that season’s Horse of the Year.