A Dash of Sign ends year on high note in Southern California Derby
CYPRESS, Calif. - A Dash of Sign concluded her 3-year-old campaign with a first career stakes win in Sunday’s $150,600 Southern California Derby, the filly’s fifth appearance in a futurity or derby.
Ridden by Jonathan Roman, A Dash of Sign ($22.60) was away sharply in the 400-yard race and won by a half-length over 29-1 Everlong. J Best Boogie (7-1) finished third, a nose in front of 4-5 favorite Monopolist, who did not have a clear start and was unable to recover.
A Dash of Sign ran 400 yards in 19.65 seconds. Owned by Gary McKinney’s Reliance Ranch, A Dash of Sign is trained by Mike Robbins, who said in the winner’s circle that the filly is likely to be his last starter at Los Alamitos.
Robbins, 72, plans to base his stable at Remington Park, Ruidoso Downs, and Lone Star Park in 2022 and may not have any runners at Los Alamitos.
Robbins won the Champion of Champions three times, with Sgt Pepper Feature in 1982, Dashs Dream in 1984, and Special Leader in 1991. The Champion of Champions is the most prestigious race in the nation for older horses.
Prior to the Southern California Derby, A Dash of Sign’s best result in a derby or futurity was a second in the Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge in May.
By Tempting Dash, A Dash of Sign has won 4 of 20 starts and earned $178,488.