Ebeko noses Tarantino in Zuma Beach Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ebeko edged Tarantino by a nose in Sunday’s $101,000 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, a margin that was deceptively close in the minds of winning rider Ricardo Gonzalez and trainer Peter Miller.

“I had a good feeling I had the head bob,” Gonzalez said.

Ebeko ($8.80) closed from fourth in early stretch and fought with 3-1 Tarantino to the finish. Tarantino finished three-quarters of a length in front of 6-1 Cotopaxi in the field of seven.

Miller told Santa Anita publicity that new whip regulations enacted by the California Horse Racing Board at the start of the month, limiting jockeys to six underhanded strikes per race, prevented Gonzalez from a more aggressive ride.

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“To be honest, there’s no doubt in my mind that he could’ve won much easier if we didn’t have the new rules,” Miller said.

The Zuma Beach Stakes was Ebeko’s second start in the United States and is expected to lead to an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

Bred in Ireland, Ebeko was second to Big Fish in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 in his American debut. Big Fish started in the Zuma Beach Stakes, but finished fifth as the 2-1 favorite, near reaching contention.

Ebeko was third for the first half-mile, stalking pacesetter Ingest through early fractions of 23.66 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.42 for a half-mile. Gonzalez said Ebeko responded when urged.

“He’s a pretty smart horse,” Gonzalez said. “He puts himself in the race. I let him settle and he made a big run.”

Ebeko was timed in 1:36.55.

Tarantino, who won his debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf on Sept. 7, was second for much of the race. Jockey Tiago Pereira said Tarantino has progressed quickly for trainer Bob Baffert and should show improvement with additional starts.

“He goes and he stops,” Pereira said. “He ran very well. He’s a little green. With more racing, he’ll be better. You need to push him hard.”

Caisson finished fourth, followed by Big Fish, Ingest, and Dennis Celery.

Ebeko, by the Cape Cross stallion Awtaad, has won 2 of 5 starts and has earned $106,430. Co-owned by Michael Nentwig, Marc Lantzman, CYBT, and Miller, Ebeko was fourth and second in his first two starts before winning an allowance race at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland on July 16 in his final start in that country.