Lovesick Blues wins the Siren Lure (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Lovesick Blues provided trainer Librado Barocio and owner Mia Familia Racing Stable with back-to-back wins in the $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes when gamely edging 7-5 favorite Bran by a half length in the six-furlong turf sprint for older horses Saturday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Geovanni Franco, Lovesick Blues (2-1) locked up with Bran (7-5) shortly after the break and they remained in a two-way battle throughout. Bran, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, was a half-length in front of Lovesick Blues through a quarter mile in 23.28 seconds, a head in front after a half mile in 45.71 seconds, then at the eighth pole, reached in 57.06 seconds, Bran maintained a half-length advantage. But in the final furlong, Lovesick Blues racing on the outside finally got in front of the stubborn pacesetter and dug in gamely to earn his first stakes win.
Air Force Red finished a half-length back of Bran in third and was followed by Final Boss (5-1). The winning time on firm turf was 1:08.50.
“The horse was very cooperative and competitive today,” Franco said. “He was smooth, he was relaxed. When I needed him to run, he responded very well.”
In last year’s Siren Lure, which was contested at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, Barocio and Mia Familia Racing Stable scored with Johnny Podres. Both Johnny Podres and Lovesick Blues were purchased privately from breeder Nick Alexander when trained by Steve Miyadi.
In his first start for his current connections, Lovesick Blues returned from a 6 ½-month layoff on March 8 and finished second to Air Force Red in the GIII San Simeon on the hillside turf course March 8. He then returned to finish third in the Sensational Star for California-breds over the same layout on March 30.
“I knew he was getting better and better,” Barocio said from the winner’s circle. “He came off that layoff and he ran a great race (in the San Simeon). Last time out, he ran a great race against good horses. I had a lot of confidence today. I felt good about him today. I just want to thank the great God up above and Nick Alexander, he is such a great breeder, for allowing me to buy this horse from him. I am just thankful.”
Lovesick Blues, a 7-year-old gelding by Grazen, improved to 39: 8-10-8 with $524,000 in earnings.
With the scratches of Eye On Ry and Noble Reflection, there was no show wagering. Lovesick Blues paid $6.00 and $2.60. Bran, who was making his first start in 9 ½- months for trainer John Sadler, returned $2.80.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
