ARCADIA, Calif. - The strategy was set in the paddock late Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita. Later Than Planned would be ridden from off the pace in the $103,500 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf with the hope a shorter trip would help the colt in his first start in a sprint stakes. Then, jockey Umberto Rispoli implemented the plan without a flaw. Closing from sixth in a field of 12, Later Than Planned rallied wide behind a fast pace to take the lead in the final strides. “In the paddock, Umberto said that will happen,” trainer Phil D’Amato recalled. “He said, ‘I’ll sit off them.’ He was in the garden spot.” Later Than Planned ($22.60) ran five furlongs on turf in 55.85 seconds and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 73. “I was able to get a good break, save ground on the rail and give him a clear trip,” Rispoli said. “Once I brought him out in the stretch, he responded really well and finished strongly.” :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. Later Than Planned finished a half-length in front of 2-1 favorite Bacio, who took the lead from 20-1 Arkadelphia with three furlongs remaining. Bacio was an eager colt after he overcame a tardy start, jockey Juan Hernandez said. “He had a slow start and I saw the outside broke better than him,” Hernandez said. “As soon as (Bacio) recovered, he took off and he was a little rank. “I didn’t take a hold too much because it was only a five-furlong race.” Bacio tried to fight back when passed by Later Than Planned, but the finish line was too close, Hernandez said. “It was a good effort,” Hernandez said. “He saw the horse pass him and it was too late because it was right at the wire.” Twilight Delight, who briefly raced in traffic on the turn, finished third, followed by Ventry Strand, Queen Bay, Bourbon and Ginger, Dirty Rich, Arkadelphia, Thirsty Rebel, Brigante, A.P. Again and Sendit Mo. A.P. Again broke slowly. The stewards reviewed whether A.P. Again had a fair start, but left the 54-1 shot as an official runner. Later Than Planned, an Irish-bred colt by the Exceed and Excel stallion Cotai Glory, has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $113,858. Later Than Planned was a well-beaten second to Ipanema Queen in a six-furlong maiden race at the Curragh in May, his lone start in Ireland. Ipanema Queen was a minor stakes winner in Ireland in August. Later Than Planned, who races for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stable, and Marsha Naify, won his American debut as the 7-5 favorite in a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 27. In the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on Sept. 7, Later Than Planned was fourth by 1 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining before fading to finish seventh of 13. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.