Mi Hermano Ramon gets up in final stride of Singletary Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mi Hermano Ramon showed he can win at 1 1/8 miles on turf in Sunday’s $100,500 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita, even when he chases a slow pace and has to catch a stubborn frontrunner.

Starting at the distance for the first time, Mi Hermano Ramon ($5) passed pacesetter Wizard of Westwood in the final stride to win by a head.

“I had a ton of horse under me,” winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said.

Sent off favored, Mi Hermano Ramon was timed in 1:48.70 and won his first stakes in the Singletary for 3-year-olds. Mi Hermano Ramon earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

A win seemed questionable in early stretch. Mi Hermano Ramon was fifth in a field of six with a furlong remaining. With a wide rally, Mi Hermano Ramon steadily caught Wizard of Westwood.

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“I think we got farther back than we wanted to or needed to,” said Tim Cohen, who co-owns Mi Hermano Ramon.

Wizard of Westwood (7-1) set a slow pace of 49.05 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:13.17 for six furlongs. Wizard of Westwood led by a length early, 1 1/2 lengths on the turn, and by a length in the stretch.

Escape Artist (3-1) closed from fourth to finish third, a half-length behind Wizard of Westwood. Game Time, Malibu Coast and Eastbound completed the order of finish.

Wizard of Westwood, Escape Artist and Malibu Coast are trained by Michael McCarthy.

Wizard of Westwood bobbled at the start, but recovered to take an early lead.

Mi Hermano Ramon is co-owned by Cohen’s Rancho Temescal and Red Baron’s Barn and trained by Mark Glatt.

Mi Hermano Ramon was fourth in his first two starts in stakes – the Baffle Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on March 5 and a the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Keeneland on April 7.

Bred by Red Baron’s Barn in Kentucky, Mi Hermano Ramon has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $169,700.

Rispoli was the fifth different rider on Mi Hermano Ramon in as many starts.

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