Johnny Podres's rally pays off with Sensational Star triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Johnny Podres was an all-star in Sunday’s $101,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-bred turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

The 7-year-old gelding, named after the star pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1950s and 1960s, rallied from sixth in a field of seven to win the first stakes of his career in his 36th start.

The Sensational Star was the ninth time that jockey Geovanni Franco was aboard Johnny Podres, and the third time they won as a team.

Johnny Podres broke well and raced four lengths behind pacesetter Clovisconnection through early fractions of 22.14 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.66 for a half-mile.

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As the field crossed from the hillside onto the main turf overall, Franco moved Johnny Podres to the outside.

“I knew he’d come out running,” Franco said. “I had the horse to maneuver out of there. Coming down the hill, he was eager to go.

“He waited for me to give him the command. Once we came over the dirt, he took off for me.”

Johnny Podres ($12.80) was fourth with a furlong remaining and held off a sustained threat from 9-2 Lovesick Blues in the final strides to win by a head, finishing about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.57. Johnny Podres earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Lovesick Blues finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 3-1 Clovisconnection.

The first two finishers were bred by Nick Alexander, who owns the 6-year-old Lovesick Blues. Both geldings are by Grazen.

“It was a good race for Grazen,” Alexander said in the box seats after the race. “When I saw Johnny Podres in the paddock, I thought he’d win.”

Catalina Eddy, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth after racing as close as second in the stretch. Coalinga Road finished fifth, followed by None Above the Law and Disko Tribute.

Johnny Podres has won eight races and earned $422,870. Owned by David Bernsen and Mia Familia Racing Stable, Johnny Podres was claimed for $40,000 last May.

Since then, Johnny Podres has won 2 of 9 starts and earned $131,950. Johnny Podres won a $50,000 claimer on March 1 that seemed to change the veteran, trainer Librado Barocio said after Sunday’s race.

“When I dropped him, I think he gained confidence,” Boracio said.

Franco, 33, won his first stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday since Lieutenant Dan prevailed in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes in October 2021. For 59-year-old Barocio, the Sensational Star was his first career stakes win at Santa Anita, and first stakes win since Principe Carlo won the Carey Grant Stakes at Del Mar in November 2021.

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