Two Thirty Five breaks through in Harry Brubaker

DEL MAR, Calif. - Last summer, Two Thirty Five ran in the two leading races for older horses on dirt at the Del Mar meeting. It turned out to be too ambitious of a plan, with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap and a last-place finish of seven in the $1 million Pacific Classic.

This year, expectations for Two Thirty Five were lowered, and he won the first stakes of his career in Wednesday’s $89,201 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile.

Closing from fifth in a field of six with a wide rally, Two Thirty Five caught stretch leader Leading Score in the final strides to win by a nose as the fifth choice in the betting. Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Two Thirty Five ($14.80) was timed in 1:37.51.

“I didn’t know if he’d get there,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “He rode a good race. I thought he might have been too far back.”

Leading Score finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-5 favorite Line Judge, who was followed by Isotherm, Dr. Dorr, and Lombo.

Lombo set early fractions of 23.20 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.03 for a half-mile, but faded through the stretch. Two Thirty Five trailed by more than three lengths midway through the race.

“I think it was key there was a pace to run at,” Baltas said.

Two Thirty Five, who races for Tom Mansor, Tammi Nielsen, Kim Rasmussen and Baltas, was claimed for $25,000 from a sprint at Santa Anita in January 2018. In 10 subsequent starts, Two Thirty Five has won four races and earned $175,735.

“We claimed him for $25,000 and I’ve thought he wants to go longer,” Baltas said.

After a fifth-place finish in the Bull Dog Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair last October, Two Thirty Five was given a rest during the winter.

“He had a little issue and we gave him three months,” Baltas said.

The Brubaker was Two Thirty Five’s third start of the year. He was third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in May and third by a length to winner Leading Score in a similar race here on July 24 as the 7-5 favorite.

By Stay Thirsty, Two Thirty Five has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $200,415.