Johnny Podres ($35.80) notches upset in Siren Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ignored despite winning twice in March, Johnny Podres closed from fourth to record a 16-1 upset in Sunday’s $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

Similar to his victory at 5-1 in the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on March 24, Johnny Podres needed the entire stretch to reach the front, catching 4-5 favorite First Peace in the final strides.

Johnny Podres won by a half-length, finishing about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.57 on a warm afternoon. Johnny Podres earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

From trainer Librado Barocio’s perspective, the key to the two stakes wins was a victory in a $50,000 claimer at six furlongs on the main turf oval on March 1, a win that ended an eight-race losing streak since a turf sprint at Golden Gate Fields in October 2022.

“When he won that race, it gave him confidence,” Barocio said in the winner’s circle in reference to the $50,000 claimer. “He’s always been a good horse and I think he’s a happy horse.”

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Ridden by Geovanni Franco, Johnny Podres took his customary position off the pace early in the Siren Lure, chasing 5-2 Mucho Del Oro through early fractions of 22.05 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.16 for a half-mile.

Fourth when the field crossed onto the main turf course, Johnny Podres raced wide through the stretch, gradually reaching contention.

First Peace, fourth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 3, finished second, a length in front of 3-1 Lane Way, who was third to Mucho Del Oro in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course on March 9.

Mucho Del Oro faded to finish fourth in the Siren Lure, finishing two lengths clear of 12-1 Mackinnon in the field of five.

Johnny Podres, a 7-year-old gelding by Grazen, races for David Bernsen and Mia Familia Racing Stable. He was claimed for $40,000 last May, and has since earned $191,950.

Named by breeder Nick Alexander in honor of the star pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1950s and 1960s, Johnny Podres has won 9 of 37 starts and earned $482,870 in a career that began in the fall of 2019.

Barocio said Johnny Podres recovered quickly from his win in the Sensational Star, making a start on Sunday more logical.

“I only worked him one easy time,” Barocio said in reference to a half-mile work in 52.60 on April 13.

“He knew what to do. I thought I had to run him.”

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