Hofmans, D'Amato looking to close meet strong
ARCADIA, Calif. – Thursday begins closing week of a memorable meet for trainers David Hofmans and Phil D’Amato, and what better way to celebrate than by starting contenders in the best races at Santa Anita?
Hofmans, who won his first Santa Anita Handicap last month with the outsider Melatonin, starts the recent acquisition Fasnacloich in the race 7 feature for fillies and mares on turf. D’Amato, who is positioned for his first Santa Anita training title, starts Sensitively and Long Hot Summer in the race 3 co-feature, a filly-and-mare sprint.
Hofmans is 73 and among the most respected and congenial horsemen in California. His list of Grade 1 winners includes Adoration, Balance, Alphabet Soup, Greg's Gold, and Touch Gold. But with a stable of just 20 horses, stakes races are rare. His first Big Cap truly was big.
“It’s been a resurgence for me and the barn because we’re small,” said Hofmans. “You don’t get an opportunity like that very often. When you do and it works, it really helps everything. It keeps you going.”
Hofmans is happy and jokes about his Grade 1 revival by repeating a line that his jockey-agent friend Bill Barisoff often employed while teasing Hofmans after a stakes win. “He used to say to me all the time, ‘Well, you clawed your way out of the coffin again.’ ”
With the turf mare Fasnacloich, Hofmans has a leading contender in race 7. Purchased for $120,000 at a November sale, the 6-for-21 mare will be one of the favorites while making her first start since September at Laurel.
“I think she’s tight enough, and she looks tremendous,” Hofmans said. “Her work [Saturday] was awesome. She acts pretty nice.”
As for D’Amato, 40, his expanding operation is hitting on all cylinders. D’Amato has 90 horses in training at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos and enters Thursday leading Doug O’Neill, 35-32. The winter exceeded his expectations.
“I thought I’d be top three, maybe top five,” D’Amato said. “Everything’s cycling. Both barns [Santa Anita and Los Alamitos] are ready to run, ready to fire.”
D’Amato’s 23 percent strike rate (35 for 152) is highest among the top 10 trainers at this meet. His front-runner Sensitively is expected to be favored in race 3 at six furlongs.
“She’s probably the speed of the field,” he said. “She’s going to go out there and do what she does best. And we’ve got [Long Hot Summer], who likes coming from off the pace. I think they complement each other.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Race 3
Sensitively, by Street Sense
Last 3 Beyers: 96-77-69
◗ The 2-for-5 filly won a first-level allowance Feb. 13 for breeder John Liviakis, who later sold her to Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino. Thursday is her first start for her new owners.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Sensitively. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 44-14-6-7 with a $2.33 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Alwazabridesmaid, by Kafwain
Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-60
◗ Jerry Hollendorfer trains Alwazabridesmaid, who won both starts at this meet. She has speed to pressure the favorite. Alwazabridesmaid has won 3 of 6.
Long Hot Summer, by Street Boss
Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-91
◗ Unraced since August, Long Hot Summer has won 3 of 7 and has a history of firing fresh. “She’s well meant,” D’Amato said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Long Hot Summer. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 16-5-2-1 with a $3.52 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt and route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Blushing Angel. Trainer Richard Baltas is 32-2-5-3 with a $1.20 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Santa Anita with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Race 7
Fasnacloich, by Any Given Saturday
Last 3 Beyers: 78-90-90
◗ Fasnacloich won a $50,000 stakes at Delaware Park in June. She is eligible Thursday due to the clause “non-winners other than closed, claiming or statebred since Aug. 1.”
Hijra, by Ontario
Last 3 Beyers: 80-85-77
◗ Hollendorfer trains Hijra, third in a similar race one month ago that was her first start in 10 months.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Havanna Belle. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 48-12-7-8 with a $2.69 ROI over the past five years in turf routes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Kool Kat. Trainer Jim Cassidy is 84-3-6-10 with a $0.35 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on turf; 30-0-2-2 in the past two years. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan