Quick Casablanca surprises in Last Tycoon

ARCADIA, Calif. - Quick Casablanca made a fast impression in his California debut in Friday’s $100,250 Last Tycoon Stakes at Santa Anita, the feature race on the opening day of the 40-day spring-summer meeting.

Quick Casablanca ($34.60) showed a sharp turn of foot in the final sixteenth to catch pacesetter Fire With Fire in the final strides. Quick Casablanca won the Grade 3 race over 1 1/8 miles on turf by a head in 1:48.62.

Quick Casablanca was the longest shot in a field of six. Ridden by Joe Talamo, Quick Casablanca was fifth with a furlong left, racing 2 1/2 lengths behind leader Fire With Fire.

Rookie Sensation, the even-money favorite, closed from last to finish third, a neck behind Fire With Fire. Rookie Sensation raced behind horses at a pivotal point in early stretch and closed well after jockey Mike Smith moved the 4-year-old to the outside.

Smith was not happy with his effort. “I rode him horribly,” Smith said.

Lakerville finished fourth, followed by Spring Up and Joelito.

The Last Tycoon Stakes was the first stakes win for Quick Casablanca since the $401,400 Asociacion Latinoamericana, a Group 1, in Argentina in March 2012. He won the Group 1 El Derby in Chile in February 2012.

Quick Casablanca was winless in five starts in New York in 2013, including a third in the John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga last July.

Quick Casablanca, a 6-year-old horse by Until Sundown, races for Pablo Gomez and trainer Ron McAnally. The Last Tycoon Stakes was Quick Casablanca’s first start for McAnally and first start since a fifth in the Slew O’ Gold Stakes at Aqueduct last November for trainer Christophe Clement.

“They gave him some time off after last year,” said Dan Landers, McAnally’s assistant. “We started over with him.

“You look at him and you like him right away. He’s a good-looking horse.”

Quick Casablanca has won 4 of 17 starts and earned $548,580.

Quick Casablanca won over 1 1/2 miles on turf in the 2012 El Derby. He may run in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 24.