ARCADIA, Calif.—In his third stateside start for John Sadler, Hronis Racing’s French-bred Bran rallied off the turn for home to overhaul pacesetter Cotopaxi late, winning Sunday’s $75,000 Siren Lure Stakes by a half length. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the 4-year-old gelding got 6 ½ furlongs out of Santa Anita’s turf chute in 1:14.82.
A close second into and around the turn, Bran was about a length off of Cotopaxi and gradually overhauled him inside the sixteenth pole under vigorous handling.
“Coming off the hill and maybe running on the flat surface, which he’s a little bit more used to, probably helped him out today,” said Kosta Hronis, in reference to a second place finish at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf on March 25. “Having the fans here yesterday, the 25,000 or whatever we had, it was just wonderful to see the racetrack full like that. As a Pasadena guy, it’s just fun to watch Santa Anita like that.”
A close third going 6 ½ furlongs out of the turf chute in the Grade II Joe Hernandez Stakes in his U.S. debut on Jan. 1, Bran was off at 5-2 in a field of five 3-year-olds and up and paid $7.00, $3.40 and $2.40.
“He’s been improving and acclimatizing to America,” said Sadler. “He’s run a couple of good races for us and it looks like he’s a hard trying horse. We got him at the right price. We bought him for like 80,000-Euro out of the Arc Sale, so we’re in good shape with him already. I think he’ll run up to a mile as we continue on with him this year.”
A winner of four out of his 13 starts in France, Bran improved his overall mark to 17-5-3-3 and with the winner’s share of $47,400 increased his earnings to $194,392.
Irish-bred Cotopaxi, owned in-part by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Eric Johnson, never threw in the towel in a solid effort. Off at 7-2 with apprentice Diego Herrera and trained by Doug O’Neill, he paid $4.40 and $2.80 while finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Delaware.
With Mike Smith up, English-bred Delaware, the biggest price at 8-1, held 9-5 favorite Indian Peak at bay late to prevail by 1 ½ lengths and returned $3.20 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.79, 46.60 and 1:08.79.
SIREN LURE STAKES QUOTES
John Sadler, Trainer of Bran: “He’s been improving and acclimatizing to America. He’s run a couple of good races for us and it looks like he’s a hard trying horse. We got him at the right price. We bought him for like 80,000-Euro out of the Arc Sale, so we’re in good shape with him already. I think he’ll run up to a mile as we continue on with him this year.”
Kosta Hronis, Owner of Bran: “Coming off the hill and maybe running on the flat surface, which he’s a little bit more used to probably helped him out today.
“Having the fans here, yesterday, the 25,000 or whatever we had, it was just wonderful to see the racetrack full like that. As a Pasadena guy it’s just fun to watch Santa Anita like that.”
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Benoit Photo
