Santa Anita
Distinctiv Passion connections mull graded stakes options
Benoit & Associates Distinctiv Passion, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, scores a front-running victory over a wet-fast main track in the Joe Hernandez.
Trainer Jeff Bonde said this week that Distinctiv Passion, the winner of the Joe Hernandez Stakes on a wet-fast track last Sunday, will start in a graded stakes on dirt for sprinters in early April.
Bonde said options include the $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at six furlongs April 9 at Oaklawn Park and the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs April 11 at Santa Anita. The Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes previously was run as the Potrero Grande Stakes.
Owned by Edward Brown Jr., Alan Klein, and Phillip Lebherz, Distinctiv Passion has won 7 of 15 starts and earned $393,660.