ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2022)–Handled patiently by Victor Espinoza, Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit demonstrated a nifty turn of foot through the lane to take Sunday’s $100,000 Eddie Logan by 1 ¼ lengths. Trained by George Papaprodromou, who swept Sunday’s Late Double, Cabo Spirit got one mile on turf in 1:36.38.
“First of all, I can’t thank enough Mr. Kretz for supporting me these past 10 years and thanks to all my help who do a great job keeping the horses happy and going like this,” Papaprodromou. “I think the last time (when a close third going a mile on turf in the Grade III Cecile B. DeMille Nov. 28, he moved a little too soon, but what can you say, he ran a huge race that day too.
“Today, what I did was put the cheaters (blinkers with a very minimal cup) on him a little bit. Last time I had to put on the semis and he couldn’t see the from the outside. He kind of got a little confused I think, but today he just ran great. He settled nicely on the backside an he did run huge at the end.”
Beaten just a half length in the DeMille, Cabo Spirit, a 3-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile, was off at 5-2 in a field of nine sophomores and paid $7.60, $4.00 and $3.20.
“The turf is a little soft, so I figured if I go to the front, my chances wouldn’t be that great, so I decided to take him back a little bit and just let him run in the end,” said Espinoza, who has ridden Cabo Spirit in his last four starts, winning two. “It seemed like he really liked that style and when I had a little room to let him run down the stretch, he opened up two lengths in no time.”
With his first stakes win, Cabo Spirit, who is out of the Shamardal mare Fancy Day, picked up $60,000 for his efforts, running his earnings to $136,220 while improving his overall mark to 7-2-1-2.
Irish-bred Maglev, who was making his U.S. debut, saved ground to the top of the lane but raced erratically late, finishing well as the 2-1 favorite under Umberto Rispoli and paid $4.40 and $3.20 while finishing a neck in front of Handy Dandy.
Handy Dandy, fresh off of an impressive one mile maiden turf win Nov. 28, was attentive to the pace but lacked the necessary kick late. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, he was off at 5-1 and paid $3.80 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.07, 47.26, 1:12.34 and 1:24.68.
Live racing resumes at Santa Anita on Friday, with first post time for a nine-race card at 12:30 p.m.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Cabo Spirit (Benoit Photo)
