Antonio Fresu congratulates Motorious on winning his 2025 debut. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Making his first start of 2025, Motorious rallied past horses in the stretch and kicked clear to earn his fourth graded stakes win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Daytona Stakes sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Phil D’Amato, Motorious settled near the rear of the field as second choice Goliad (7-2), ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, was alone and the lead and allowed to set leisurely opening fractions of 23.18 and 45.10 seconds. The pedestrian pace had D’Amato concerned, the trainer noted from the winner’s circle.
“I thought Mike Smith might have stolen it when they crossed the dirt,” D’Amato said.
Slow pace or not, Motorious came to run in what his first start since Dec. 26 when winning the GII Joe Hernandez on the hillside turf course. Motorious began to gradually cut into Goliad’s advantage as they approached the dirt crossing, made the lead just inside the sixteenth pole and then drew away to win by 1 ¼ lengths over Bran (5-1) and jockey Umberto Rispoli. It was another length back to Air Force Red (7-1).
“The horse was coming back off a layoff and I didn’t think the horse was 100 percent fit, so going slow the first part of the race helped to show his turn of foot at the end,” Fresu said. “He was traveling beautifully all the way and getting more comfortable. When I pulled him out after the (dirt) crossing it was impressive.”
Motorious won in a time of 1:13.13.
“I liked his explosiveness today,” D’Amato said. “Once he changed leads, he blew past those horses and finished with interest. That was a much more impressive effort than I thought he’d give me first out so we’re looking forward to Del Mar.”
A 7-year-old gelding by Muharrar, Motorious was bred in Great Britain where he made his first seven starts. He is campaigned domestically by Anthony Fanticola. Prior to his win in the Joe Hernandez in December, Motorious was beaten just a neck when second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. He improved to 22: 9-5-2 with $867,604 in earnings.
Motorious paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Bran, trained by John Sadler, returned $4.00 and $2.40. Air Force Red, ridden by Armando Ayuso for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $3.20.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita, which is closing day of the Hollywood Meet. A big 12-race card is set highlighted by the GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes. First post is 12:30 p.m. PT.
