Sumter holds off Balnikhov in Singletary Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sumter led by more than a length for most of Saturday’s $100,000 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita, and held the advantage by a desperate nose at the finish of the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Sumter ($3.20) was challenged in the final strides by 7-2 Balnikhov, who was a head in front of 5-2 Handy Dandy in the field of five.

“I thought for sure I got beat,” winning trainer Richard Mandella said.

Smith had Sumter in front by two lengths on the backstretch, by a length with a quarter-mile remaining, and by 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch. Balnikhov closed steadily on the inside to be second in the stretch and just missed.

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“It was one of those deals where we were in front in the jump before and after, but not on the wire,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Balnikhov.

Sumter was timed in 1:34.65 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

Handy Dandy finished 3 3/4 lengths clear of Durante, who was followed by Almanera in the small field.

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Sumter, a colt by War Front, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $189,600 for owners and breeders Ramona and Perry Bass. The Singletary Stakes was Sumter’s third consecutive win, all on turf, a sequence that includes a maiden race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar last November and his 3-year-old debut in the Pasadena Stakes at a mile on Feb. 19.

“He’s a good horse, there’s no question about that,” Mandella said.

Mandella mentioned the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes, a $500,000 race at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs on May 7, as a possibility for Sumter.