Motorious turns on speed en route to San Simeon victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – Oddly enough, a rain-caused interruption in training benefitted late-runner Motorious, who produced unexpected speed to defeat comeback front-runner Brickyard Ride in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters Sunday at Santa Anita.

Motorious ($5 favorite) broke like a shot and chased pacesetter Brickyard Ride in the hillside sprint. Motorious ranged outside Brickyard Ride crossing the dirt and ran away to win by 2 1/4 lengths, the second Sunday stakes for jockey Flavien Prat. Earlier, he won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes with Faiza.

Phil D’Amato trains Motorious, a deep closer who typically lags early and kicks late. On Sunday, Motorious produced surprising speed to chase from second positon.

“He was just sharp today,” D’Amato said. “I actually think with all this time off and less training, it made him even sharper. And he put it to a good horse.”

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D’Amato was referring to seven-time stakes winner Brickyard Ride, making his first start in nine months and first after arthroscopic surgery for a knee chip. Brickyard Ride and Juan Hernandez cleared by two lengths, but Motorious was in close pursuit.

Brickyard Ride tired in the lane; Motorious ran away. Anarchist rallied to finish second, a half-length in front of Brickyard Ride. Whatmakessammyrun, Respect the Code, Sumter and Count of Amazonia completed the finish order.

Anthony Fanticola owns Motorious, who began his career in England before making his U.S. debut in March 2022. Runner-up last out in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes, Motorious scored his first graded win in the San Simeon. He has won five of 13; he is 3 for 6 in the U.S. The final time of the San Simeon was 1:11.34.

# Two races after older horses sprinted on the hill in the San Simeon, 3-year-olds sprinted on the hill in the $100,000 Baffle Stakes. Johannes ($5 favorite) bulled through horses in deep stretch to defeat longshot Wizard of Westwood in 1:13.07. Tim Yakteen trains Johannes, a Nyquist colt who has won 2 of 5. He is 2 for 2 on turf.

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