Kangaroo Court (outside) won the thrilling stretch duel with Bus Buzz (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Race Is Part Of Lucrative CTBA-Sponsored Golden State Series
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— In a thrilling stretch duel that included some contact, Tim Yakteen’s Kangaroo Court prevailed by a head over Steve Knapp’s Bus Buzz in Saturday’s $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita. A 3-year-old gelding owned by George Sharp, trained by Tim Yakteen and ridden by Flavien Prat; Kangaroo Court got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.66.
The Echo Eddie is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and was one of six stakes on the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day card.
With Edwin Maldonado up, Bus Buzz outfooted the winner early, but was engaged to his outside leaving the three-furlong pole by Kangaroo Court and the two were head and head from the top of the stretch to the wire, with each horse contributing equally to bumping approaching the eighth pole and again a sixteenth of a mile out.
After a stewards’ inquiry, the original order of finish was allowed to stand.
“It was a gutsy run, I thought we got bumped twice down the lane,” said Prat. “The other horse shifted out and bumped us twice, so I was really proud of his effort to stay focused and to get the win.”
A runaway maiden winner two starts back and a 1 ¾ length winner going six furlongs over Bus Buzz in a statebred allowance here on March 4, Kangaroo Court was off at 1-2 in a field of seven and paid $3.00, $2.10 and $2.10.
“It was a fast race and came down to the wire,” said Yakteen, who saddled the winner of the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, Practical Move one race earlier. “Both horses ran great and were very determined. Fortunately for us, we ended up on the right side of the finish line.”
Bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises, Kangaroo Court is a chestnut gelding by Dads Caps out of the Hard Spun mare Bonus Spin. With the winner’s share of $90,000, he increased his earnings to $197,200 while posting three wins from four starts.
The second choice at 7-2, Bus Buzz finished 6 ¼ lengths in front of Clouseau and paid $2.60 and $2.40.
Ridden by Geovanni Franco, Clouseau was off at 11-1 and paid $3.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.31, 43.83 and 1:08.80.
$150,000, Echo Eddie Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Flavien Prat, Kangaroo Court, Winner: “It was a gutsy run, I thought we got bumped twice down the lane. The horse from the inside he shifted out and bumped us twice, so I’m really proud of his effort to stay focused and get the win.”
Edwin Maldonado, Bus Buzz, Second: “He (Flavien Prat) made the first two contacts with my horse, and I made the last one. He slammed me. My horse ran a big race. I knew the race was going to between the two of us. I was trying to get away from him. I figured if I could go as fast as I could, I might be able to steal the race. He (Prat) had the same thoughts.”
Trainer Quotes
Tim Yakteen, Kangaroo Court, Winner:“It was a fast race and came down to the wire. Both horses ran great and were very determined. Fortunately for us, we ended up on the right side of the finish line.”
Owner Quotes
George Sharp, Kangaroo Court, Winner: “What a horse! They told me at the training center when we were breaking him that of the $1.9 million in yearlings, I got he was the best one. I didn’t believe him because the horse was $7,500, turns out he was right. There’s not enough you can say about Tim’s job on the horse. I’m incredibly proud of him That horse is the reason I’m in horse racing.
“He’s going to be at Churchill on Derby Day, in the (Grade II, May 6) Pat Day Mile, so it might be a while until he’s back here but I’m incredibly proud of him.”
