Combacking Kid Corleone in charge throughout as he takes the $65,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by 1 ½ lengths, gets 6 panels in 1:08.85 (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— With Grade I winner American Theorem dominating the wagering, Doug O’Neill’s Kid Corleone, idle since Oct. 1, overcame a difficult start and an 8 ½ month layoff to take Friday’s $65,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by 1 ½ lengths. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Kid Corleone was in charge on the lead throughout and got six furlongs in 1:08.85.
Breaking from the far outside in a field of six older horses, Kid Corleone hopped a bit at the break but was quick into stride as Hernandez was able to clear and get to the rail in the run to the far turn. A neck clear of Escape Route and Disco Ball leaving the three-furlong pole, Kid Corleone began to inch clear leaving the furlong marker and despite the fact he stayed on his left lead, won as best with American Theorem making no impression from behind.
Sixth, beaten 14 ¼ lengths at 5-2 in the Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 1, Kid Corelone was off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.40, $4.20 and $3.80.
“Just credit to the owners, being patient with him,” said O’Neill. “After his last race, he just wasn’t right, he needed time and I gave it to him…I thought at the break, when he hopped and didn’t leave there perfectly, he was under a lot of pressure. It looked like he back peddled a little bit.
“(Hernandez) said when he called on him, he picked it back up and just showed a lot of heart and class. In the morning he’ll switch leads. He’s done it in the afternoons too, but J.J. knows him well enough not to force him and he’s comfortable enough on his left lead, so leave him alone. As long as he’s injury-free, he’s sound enough take on some big races.”
Owned by Roadrunner Racing and Barbara Evenson, Kid Corleone is a 4-year-old colt by Shackleford out of the Indian Charlie mare Corleone. With today’s winner’s share of $39,000, he increased his earnings to $139,400.
Escape Route, who was in middle of a three-horse spread turning for home, outran everyone but the winner, finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Disco Ball. Off at 8-1 with Antonio Fresu, Escape Route paid $7.20 and $5.00.
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Disco Ball checked in 3 ¾ lengths in front of Cyberviking and paid $5.00 while off at 12-1.
American Theorem, winner of last summer’s Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and idle since off the board in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 5, flattened out badly through the drive to finish last, beaten 6 ¾ lengths.
Fractions on the race were 22.21, 44.44 and 56.45.
First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday, the penultimate day of Santa Anita’s 28-day Hollywood Meet, is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.
