Prat and Sumter combine to win Pasadena Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flavien Prat rode Sumter for the first time last November, winning a turf sprint against maidens in the colt’s fourth start. Prat and Sumter remained unbeaten together in Saturday’s $103,000 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita.

In his first start since the maiden win, Sumter set the pace in the Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf, and held off a late threat from an unlucky Handy Dandy to win by three-quarters of a length.

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The Pasadena Stakes was Sumter’s first start at a mile, and the colt handled it without difficulty.

“He was traveling super,” Prat said. “He broke good. He settled down nicely.

“I think it was as impressive as last time, especially with the more distance. The distance was a question. The race went well.”

Sumter, trained by Richard Mandella for Ramona and Perry Bass, was timed in 1:34.77 after setting early fractions of 23.17 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.70 for a half-mile. Sumter earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

Sent off favored, Sumter ($5.20) led by as many as two lengths with a furlong remaining. In the first half of the race, Sumter had a half-length advantage over 18-1 Barsabas.

Handy Dandy (5-1) was well placed entering the backstretch, but dropped back to sixth of 11 with three furlongs remaining after Epoch and Doitforandrew were urged closer to the front. Handy Dandy raced behind horses on the turn and closed with interest once clear in the stretch.

The runner-up finish for Handy Dandy was little consolation for jockey Edwin Maldonado, who said he was boxed in in the stretch.

Crosby Beach (11-1) finished third after encountering traffic in the stretch, followed by Don’t Swear Dave, Barsabas, Echosmith, Red Road, Doitforandrew, Optigogo, Epoch and Fast Draw Munnings.

Doitforandrew was the 4-1 second choice but had a rough start. Jockey Umberto Rispoli urged Doitforandrew closer to the front on the backstretch, but the colt could not sustain the effort.

Sumter, by War Front, has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $129,600.