Sumter ends skid with repeat victory in Lure Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Goliad did the early work while Sumter reaped the benefit in Saturday’s $88,780 Lure Stakes for turf milers at Santa Anita.
The two older geldings, trained by Richard Mandella, were a de facto tag team. Goliad set a quick early pace of 22.68 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.95 for a half-mile, leading by as many as 5 1/2 lengths under jockey Kazushi Kimura.
Sumter, ridden by Mike Smith, was third for the first five furlongs. In early stretch, Sumter passed Goliad and rapidly pulled clear to win by four lengths.
The second choice in a field of six, Sumter ($6.80) was timed in 1:32.46, ending a four-race losing streak since the 2024 Lure Stakes. Sumter earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99.
St Anthony (4-1) closed from fifth to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 5-1 Watsonville. Goliad faded to finish fourth, followed by Mystic Spirit and Nesso’s Lasthurrah, the 9-5 favorite. Endlessly, ninth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, was scratched on veterinary advice.
Sumter had his third start of the year in the Lure, which was restricted to non-winners of a stakes worth $60,000 or more at a mile or farther, other than statebred races, this year.
Sumter was fifth by 4 3/4 lengths in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on July 31, and eighth by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 30.
Mandella said he was encouraged by the way Sumter closed ground in the stretch of the Green Flash.
“He needed another eighth of a mile,” Mandella said.
Goliad’s quickness was not a surprise.
“He was having a good time,” Mandella said. “He likes to do that, but he got carried away.”
Sumter and Goliad races for Ramona and Perry Bass. Sumter, a 6-year-old by War Front, has won 5 of 28 starts and earned $480,410. In early 2022, Sumter won consecutive starts in one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita – the Pasadena and Singletary.
Mandella said the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29 may be Sumter’s next race.
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