Howbeit, Whatmakesammyrun to Breeders' Cup? Not sure, says trainer

ARCADIA, Calif. - Howbeit and Whatmakesammyrun gave veteran California trainer Mark Glatt a career milestone afternoon at Santa Anita on Saturday, the first time he has won two graded stakes on the same day.

The two may not run again on the same day in the near future.

On Sunday, Glatt was reluctant to plan Breeders’ Cup starts at Keeneland on Nov. 5 for the pair, both surprise winners of Grade 2 stakes.

“We’ll have to discuss that with the ownership group,” he said. “The races can change and we’ll have to see what they look like if things happen and there are certain defections.

“Whatmakessammyrun is more likely of the two.”

Howbeit ($14.40) won the $200,500 Santa Anita Sprint Championship by a nose over 5-1 C Z Rocket, closing from fourth in a field of six. Forbidden Kingdom, the 11-10 favorite, set the pace and faded to finish fifth.

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Howbeit, claimed for $32,000 in February 2021, earned $120,000 for a partnership that includes It Pays to Dream Stable, Saints or Sinners partnership, Danny Haramoto, Sheldon Kawahara and Gregory Yamamoto.

The gritty win was a far cry from Howbeit’s 2022 debut when he unseated jockey Evin Roman at the start of the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton in July. Howbeit was the 7-10 favorite that day.

“He didn’t get off to a good start for us,” Glatt said of the setback in July. “It wasn’t the toughest Grade 2 yesterday, but he got the job done.”

Glatt, 49, won two stakes for the second time in his career on Saturday. He won two stakes on March 31, 2019 – the Irish O’Brien Stakes with Gypsy Blu and the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes with Law Abidin Citizen.

C Z Rocket, an 8-year-old gelding, was second in the 2020 BC Sprint at Keeneland, and could return to Keeneland next month, trainer Peter Miller said on Sunday.

“He ran awesome,” Miller said. “He was in front one jump before the wire and the one after.

“We’ll look at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and possibly the Dirt Mile.”

Forbidden Kingdom may not race again until the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“He’s got a sore foot and he looks pretty tired,” Mandella said on Sunday. “We may freshen him up for the Malibu.”

Whatmakessammyrun ($38) ended a six-race losing streak since the Desert Code Stakes in June 2021 in the $202,000 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. A 4-year-old gelding who races for Sterling Racing, Whatmakessammyrun closed from sixth into a fast pace to win by three-quarters of a length over 4-1 Lane Way.

The distance of the Eddie D is notably different than the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs.

Lane Way is a possible entrant in the BC Turf Sprint, Mandella said.

“I might think of that,” Mandella said of the Breeders’ Cup.

There were five graded stakes at Santa Anita and the results of the other three races may have minimal influence on Breeders’ Cup races.

Masteroffoxhounds led throughout the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles, and is likely to have his next start at the Del Mar autumn meeting that begins on Nov. 11, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

The D’Amato-trained Gold Phoenix finished third by a neck and a head, and will be a longshot in the BC Turf. A closer, Gold Phoenix earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf by winning the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Sept. 3.

“I think that will set him up for the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said. “I think if he gets the right trip he can make some noise in the stretch.”

Beyond Brilliant may be the only runner from the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile to advance to the BC Mile. Beyond Brilliant led throughout the turf race as the 9-10 favorite, winning by three-quarters of a length over Cathkin Peak.

Owned by CRK Stables, Beyond Brilliant would have a difficult task to lead throughout the BC Mile in a large field.

“He’s never run at Keeneland,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “We’ll think about it. It’s an owners’ decision.”

Defunded led a sweep of the first two positions of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for trainer Bob Baffert, with Country Grammer second by 1 3/4 lengths. Country Grammer won the $12 million Dubai World Cup in March and was second by 19 1/4 lengths to BC Classic favorite Flightline on Sept. 3.

Defunded earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic with the win. If Defunded runs in the BC Classic, Baffert could have three starters, including Country Grammer and Taiba, the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24.

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