Victory in allowance race might send Ultimate Gamble to Preakness
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The 3-year-old colt Ultimate Gamble began April with a win in a maiden race at Santa Anita. He may end the month as a candidate the Preakness Stakes.
Ultimate Gamble runs in an allowance race against older horses on Sunday at Santa Anita. If he wins, Ultimate Gamble might run next in the Preakness on May 20 at Pimlico.
“He could come in for the Preakness,” co-owner Tim Cohen said Friday. “It’s not out of the question.”
Purchased for $1.75 million at a 2-year-olds sale last April, Ultimate Gamble was fourth in his debut last August at Del Mar and won the maiden race on April 1 in his second start. Sent off at 7-10 in a field of five, Ultimate Gamble closed from third to win the 1 1/16-mile race by an easy 2 1/4 lengths under jockey Frankie Dettori.
“I thought it was fantastic,” Cohen said. “It was what we were hoping for. He was meant to be a good horse.”
Dettori has since moved back to England, leaving the mount on Ultimate Gamble on Sunday to Mike Smith.
Trained by Mark Glatt, Ultimate Gamble is part of a field of six and figures to dominate the betting. Among his opponents is Katonah, second in an allowance race at a mile on April 9, who might set the pace.
◗ California breeder Terry Lovingier is the breeder of four of the seven entrants in Sunday’s third race, the season’s first open maiden race for 2-year-olds in the state, and is an owner of three of them.
Lovingier is the breeder and co-owner of Going Mobile, Last Call London, and Smokem Ez, and he bred Thirsty Gambler.
Going Mobile, a colt by Stay Thirsty who is trained by Steve Knapp, is held in high regard after two quick workouts from the gate.
◗ Ballet Dancing, winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes on March 12 at Santa Anita, was recently retired to be bred, trainer Simon Callaghan said Friday.
Ballet Dancing won 3 of 9 starts and earned $191,060. She raced for the Coolmore syndicate and was an $800,000 purchase as a yearling.
A 4-year-old by Medaglia d’Oro, Ballet Dancing was in training after the Santa Ana before she was diagnosed with bone bruising, Callaghan said.
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