Once again, D'Amato holds high cards in turf stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – There’s just no stopping the waves of stakes victories from the deepest turf stable in California. But once in a while, the juggernaut hits a snag.
Trainer Phil D’Amato won more than one-third of the graded turf races the past year in Southern California (19 of 53), a trend that may continue when Santa Anita opens its winter meet Monday.
D’Amato trains program favorites for both Grade 2 turf stakes – Balnikhov in the Mathis Mile, race 1, and Masteroffoxhounds in the San Gabriel, race 3. As an added turf bonus, D’Amato runs three longshots in the Grade 1 American Oaks, race 11.
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Yes, D’Amato wins many. But he does not win them all, and a $1 million gelding trained by Mark Glatt will enter the Mathis as arguably the most probable winner on the opening-day program. Recently purchased at auction in England, I’m A Gambler looks and trains like a horse who will make an impact in the California turf division.
A million dollars is a lot to spend for a 9-for-24 gelding.
“It’s a lot to spend on any horse,” Glatt countered. “You never know how [overseas] form is going to transfer to the U.S., but we’re hoping he can develop into a serious grass horse around here. He’s got a nice stride on him, and to be around him, he acts like a nice horse.”
I’m A Gambler was purchased by Tim Cohen and his late father, Jed, at the Tattersalls auction from which they also purchased Grade 3 winner Bellstreet Bridie, a contender in the American Oaks. Since arriving in the United States, I’m A Gambler has done everything right.
Flavien Prat worked I’m A Gambler last weekend on the Santa Anita training track.
“I really liked him, he seems like he has ability,” the rider said. Coming from understated Prat, it was a ringing endorsement.
The running style stakes winner I’m A Gambler employed in Europe suggests a cozy trip Monday, forwardly placed behind likely pacesetter Sumter. Others in the Mathis, over one mile for 3-year-olds, include One More Bid, Time to Party, Agatino, and Handy Dandy. The main threat to I’m A Gambler, of course, is D’Amato-trained late-runner Balnikhov.
Since his U.S. debut in April, as runner-up to Sumter in a turf stakes, Balnikhov gradually improved. He comes off the race of his career, a win in the Grade 3 Bryan Station at Keeneland in which he smoked his final quarter-mile in 22.56 seconds to wear down subsequent Grade 1-placed Wit.
D’Amato said Balnikhov is “training spectacular” for his first start in two months. The Irish-bred gelding will be ridden again by Midwest- and East Coast-based Tyler Gafflione. The gelding’s three U.S. starts at one mile produced two wins and a second.
“That’s his ideal distance, and that’s what we’re going to focus on next year,” D’Amato said. “I’m hoping to win [the Mathis], then give him a little time and point for those mile races as a 4-year-old later next year.”
Balnikhov joins a D’Amato turf-mile arsenal that includes Hong Kong Harry, a Grade 2 winner under consideration for the Grade 3 Thunder Road on Feb. 4, and Count Again, a multiple Grade 1 winner returning to Santa Anita next month after an off-site freshening.
“If Count Again comes back and he’s at 100 percent, I’m going to have some really nice grass milers for next year,” D’Amato said.
Two races after the meet-opener showdown between I’m a Gambler and Balnikhov, older horses go 1 1/8 miles on turf in the race-3 San Gabriel. Surprisingly, D’Amato is 0 for 9 in the San Gabriel, a glitch likely to be remedied by either Masteroffoxhounds or Prince Abama.
Masteroffoxhounds has blossomed this fall. He won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita, and followed with the best performance of his career, a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar. Masteroffoxhounds set a fast pace, kicked away briefly in the stretch, then got collared by Hong Kong Harry and Beyond Brilliant.
Mike Smith rides Masteroffoxhounds, a 5-year-old whose six turf starts at Santa Anita include two graded stakes wins, with two seconds and two thirds. Masteroffoxhounds is the program favorite; second favorite Prince Abama will be ridden by Prat, who was aboard for a Grade 2 win last out at 1 1/4 miles.
“That race the other day was like a gallop and a sprint at the end,” D’Amato said. “That was like a morning workout for him.
Others in the San Gabriel field include Rip City, Dicey Mo Chara, Go On, Bob and Jackie, and Flashiest.
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