San Antonio: Country Grammer, Dettori stay perfect together
ARCADIA, Calif. - Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori were an unbeatable team in 2022.
Last March, Dettori won the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the first time he rode the 5-year-old horse. The partnership was reunited in Monday’s Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita, a race Country Grammer won comfortably under a confident ride by Dettori.
Racing wide, Country Grammer ($3.20) stalked the pace to the turn, took the lead in early stretch and pulled clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths as a strong favorite.
“At the three-eighths pole, I put pressure on the leaders and at the quarter pole I was on my own,” Dettori said.
Dettori, arguably the world’s most recognizable rider, is riding full-time at Santa Anita in coming months. Monday’s opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting was his first win at Santa Anita since Queens Trust won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2016.
Country Grammer is the only horse that the 52-year-old Dettori has ridden for Baffert.
“After 30 years, I’m 2 for 2 with Bob,” he said.
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Country Grammer ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.45 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. Dettori had Country Grammer three wide on the first turn and backstretch, stalking Hopkins who set a solid pace of 22.76 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.16 for a half-mile. Hopkins faded from contention, leaving 5-1 Stilleto Boy with a brief lead before Country Grammer took control.
Stilleto Boy, the winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes last April, held second in his first start since he finished last of six behind the retired star Flightline in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith rode Stilleto Boy for the first time and was left impressed by the 4-year-old gelding’s performance.
“I thought he was dynamite,” Smith said. “That race should do him some good.”
Heywoods Beach, the winner of two Grade 3 races at 1 1/2 miles on dirt earlier this year, finished third at 9-1, and was followed by Breakfast Ride, Hudson Ridge, and Hopkins.
Country Grammer, by Tonalist, races for Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, Winstar Farm, and Amr Zedan. The win in the $200,500 San Antonio Stakes ended a span of three second-place finishes since the Dubai World Cup for Country Grammer in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July, the Pacific Classic, and the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.
Baffert held Country Grammer out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last month in favor of a winter campaign beginning with the San Antonio.
The $20 million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25 is expected to be Country Grammer’s next start. Country Grammer was second in the Saudi Cup earlier this year prior to his win in the Dubai World Cup.
Country Grammer has won 5 of 14 starts and earned $11,277,320. This year, he has earned $10.9 million.
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