Frankie Dettori’s Fanfare, it deserves a year “Part 2”

December 26, 2022

Frankie Dettori, He showed us how good he is!
” Frankie Dettori, ci ha mostrato quanto e bravo “

Frankie Dettori wins The San Antonio at Santa Anita on opening day and earns an invitation to The Pegasus as he begins his fanfare farewell tour

Frankie makes it a three win day at Santa Anita opening day to start his fanfare year

By Jonathan Stettin

Frankie Dettori after winning the San Antonio aboard Country Grammer
Frankie after winning the San Antonio (Gabriel Vartanian, Live and Breathe Horse Racing)

PART 2

It didn’t take long. It did not take long at all. Sure, Country Grammer was the favorite and best horse in the Grade 2 San Antonio. He won like it and Frankie Dettori looked every bit the world class rider he is aboard him. One of the things that has distinguished Frankie amongst the best of all time is that he rides all surfaces, countries, horses, racetracks, and distances as if that is his specialty. He looked like a top American dirt rider aboard Country Grammar for Bob Baffert. When he looked back over his right shoulder on the far turn most of us felt the race was over. The race was for second at that point and Country Grammer and Frankie just trounced the field from there.

Yes we saw the flying dismount and a hug from Bob Baffert who at that point was enjoying his third win on the stellar opening day Santa Anita card.

Frankie Dettori flying dismount from Country Grammer after winning The San Antonio
The Flying Dismount, Frankie Dettori, Past The Wire

Along with the win comes an invitation to The Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in late January. If Country Grammer brings the form he brought to The San Antonio to The Pegasus the other runners may find themselves in deep water.

So on the first day of Frankie Dettori’s Fanfare he did what we have come to expect and he has been doing for years. He won a big one on a big horse. The first stop of the Frankie Dettori is already a success. A win for a top barn, a top mount going forward and a likely trip to The Pegasus and possibly Saudi Arabia for The Saudi Cup or Dubai for The Dubai World Cup. It could not have gone better for Frankie and he is just getting warmed up! Frankie came right back to win the next race aboard La Deuxieme Etoile for Doug O’ Neil. This one was six and a half furlongs down the hill, for Frankie, no problem. Was Frankie finished, of course not he won the 9th race aboard Ballet Dancing. A three win day to start the Frankie Fanfare. This is going to be fun!

Frankie Dettori weighs in, Ernie Belmonte, Past The Wire
Frankie Dettori in a familiar spot
Frankie Dettori begins his Fanfare at Santa Anita winning the San Antonio aboard Country Grammer for Bob Baffert, Ernie Belmonte, Past The Wire
Frankie and Country Grammer win the San Antonio, Ernie Belmonte, Past The Wire

Read Part 1 of this series HERE

Photos: Past The Wire

“For a unique and real perspective on horse racing, I read Jonathan Stettin’s column Past the Wire.” Bob Baffert, Multiple Triple Crown winner, Eclipse Award winner, Hall of Fame Champion Trainer

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