American Band shows her true worth. (Coady Photography/Shelby Layne Ridgeway)
By Robert Yates
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – American Band, who ran for a $12,500 claiming tag last year at Oaklawn, caught Grade 1 winner Daddysruby on the outside near the wire for an upset victory in the $250,000 Matron Stakes for older female sprinters.
American Band (27-1) was the longest-priced horse in the field, reduced to eight following the scratches of Backyard Money and Chandana.
American Band ($57) tracked dueling front-runners Mucho Macho Girl and Daddysruby through quick splits of :21.49 and :45.06 for a half-mile. American Band, who was ridden by Walter De La Cruz, wore down Daddysruby in the final sixteenth of a mile.
Daddysruby held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Royal Spa, who was followed, in order, by Leeloo, Hoosier Philly, 6-5 favorite Zeitlos, Traverse and a leg-weary Mucho Macho Girl.
American Band’s winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:10.57. American Band races for owner/trainer John Haran, who claimed the 5-year-old daughter of Flatter for $12,500 last May at Oaklawn. American Band is 3 for 3 at the meeting. She was making her stakes debut after a first-level allowance score March 9.
American Band is 6 of 9 overall, with earnings of $332,205.
Matron Quotes
Walter De La Cruz (Winning Jockey/American Band): “Perfect trip, like we planned with the trainer. I just let her go behind the two horses with speed. Just sat there waiting for the stretch. She gave me everything. She kicked nice. I’m so happy now.”
John Haran (Winning Owner/Trainer/American Band): “I was pretty nervous, to be honest with you. This is her first time off Lasix. You never know what’s going to happen because anything can happen when you’re off Lasix the first time. Looks like she responded really well being off it. I have no fear anymore, I guess, looking toward bigger and better things and we’ll go from there. We’ll see what comes about, but I’m sure we’ll find something here before the end of the meet. She’s 3 for 3 here right now.”
