Gregorian Chant goes last to first in sprint allowance

ARCADIA, Calif. - Gregorian Chant briefly left the stakes division on Sunday at Santa Anita, long enough to win an allowance race at six furlongs on turf.

The winner of two turf sprint stakes earlier this year, Gregorian Chant could start in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on May 29, or the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park on June 5.

The winner of the $400,000 Jaipur Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6 as part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

In Sunday’s race, Gregorian Chant ($3.80) closed from last in a field of five to catch stretch leader Bombard and beat that rival by a half-length, in 1:08.46. Juan Hernandez, who rode Gregorian Chant to wins in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on Jan. 24 and the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on March 13, was aboard for Sunday’s race.

“Juan breezed him a few times and he said, ‘Run him. He’s good to go,’ ” D’Amato said. “For him to come from behind and come and get them, he had to run his A game.”

Gregorian Chant, a 5-year-old British-bred gelding, races for Old Bones Racing Stable, Slam Dunk Racing, and Michael Nentwig, and has won 6 of 15 starts and earned $267,013.

Gregorian Chant was racing at 1 1/2 miles as recently as November – finishing 11th of 12 in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup – but has excelled at shorter distances this year.