Ebadan takes to U.S. racing

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ebadan made a splashy U.S. debut on Thursday, using a late rally to win an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Ebadan ($26.80) closed from more than eight lengths off the pace under jockey Flavien Prat to win by a nose over Zinvor. Trainer Neil Drysdale said he is planning to start Ebadan in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 15.

“I thought he really turned the gas on,” Drysdale said of Ebadan’s rally. “That was very educational.”

Owned by David Heerensperger, Ebadan had one win in four starts, all in Ireland, including a win in a maiden race on the all-weather surface at Dundalk in January. He raced as a gelding for the first time Thursday.

The Oceanside is the featured race on opening day of the Del Mar spring-summer meeting.