Later Than Planned. (Benoit Photo)
Umberto Rispoli scored four wins on the day with two graded stakes
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Later Than Planned was right on time in the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita.
With Umberto Rispoli aboard in the five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, Later Than Planned (10-1) roared down the middle of the course in the final furlong and surged past 2-1 favorite Bacio in the final strides to win by a half-length. Twilight Delight (4-1), who like Bacio had shipped in from Kentucky, finished another 1 ½ lengths back in third.
Later Than Ready is trained by Phil D’Amato and is co-owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. He was imported from his native Ireland earlier this year after one start on the Emerald Isle in May. The Speakeasy was Later Than Planned’s first time sprinting in the U.S. A colt by Cotai Glory, Later Than Ready beat maidens in his U.S. bow going a mile on turf in August at Del Mar, then was a no-threat seventh in the one-mile GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7.
For Rispoli, it was his second graded stakes win on the card and his fourth victory overall. He and D’Amato also teamed to win the GII Rodeo Drive Mission of Joy.
“I hooked up with a hot jock today,” D’Amato said. “I have got to hand it to the jockey and his agent (Matt Nakatani). After the horse’s last out at Del Mar, they told me that they felt this horse should go short. So, I trained the horse accordingly. They both drew it up for me in the paddock before the race and they came with the big run at the end and got it done.”
Later Than Planned, who came with his run from mid-pack, won in a time of 55.85 seconds following fractions of 21.26 and 44.15.
“I was very pleased with how sharp he was today,” Rispoli said. “I was able to get a good break, save ground on the rail, and give him a clear trip. Once I brought him out in the stretch, he responded really well and finished strongly. Overall, it was a great ride and I’m very happy with the way he performed.”
Later Than Planned paid $22.60, $8.20 and $4.80. Bacio, with Juan Hernandez aboard for trainer Wesley Ward, returned $5.00 and $3.80. Twilight Delight, with Kazushi Kimura up for trainer Daniel Leitch, paid $3.40.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a 10-race card starting at 1 p.m. featuring the GIII Zuma Beach Stakes and GIII Surfer Girl Stakes. The card is also bolstered by a $26,407 carryover in the $1 Sunset Pick 6, a low takeout wager that combines the final three races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.
