Lombo ends layoff with win, may target Malibu Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – Lombo needed all of the 1,380-foot stretch at Los Alamitos to win an optional $62,500 claimer on Thursday. Making his first start for Phil D’Amato after having been trained by Mike Pender, Lombo closed steadily under Martin Garcia to win by a head over Street Vision, finishing six furlongs in 1:09.76.

Lombo had not raced since finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 5.

“Those were good, seasoned older horses,” D’Amato said of Thursday’s field. “For him to do that off the break, I like the fight I saw.”

Lombo won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in February for Pender.

Lombo was transferred by owner Michael Lombardi from Pender to D’Amato in early summer.

D’Amato said Lombo will be considered for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

“The jockeys that have ridden him think he’s a one-turn horse,” D’Amato said. “He’s bigger and stronger.”