Sandy Bottom (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— An impressive first-out maiden winner in September, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Sandy Bottom made it look easy in her first assignment with winners on Saturday at Santa Anita, as she led gate to wire to take the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes by three quarters of a length. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the bay daughter of Omaha Beach got six furlongs in 1:10.55.
Breaking on top from her rail post, Sandy Bottom was immediately in charge while seemingly well within herself. Leading by a half-length three furlongs from home, eventual runner-up Tambo nearly got on terms leaving the quarter pole, but Sandy Bottom would have none of it and opened up by two lengths a furlong out en route to victory.
“Today, it seemed like she caught a flier (leaving the gate),” said McCarthy. “I was pleasantly surprised to see her put herself where she did. Umberto seemed in command up the backside, it was nice to see him put a little daylight in between him and everyone else coming to the quarter pole.
“We will keep her at one turn for now. I believe there is a stake in a few weeks’ time at Del Mar around one turn that may be something to think about. I think six and a half, seven (furlongs) would be her limit. We will find out.”
A dazzling 3 ½ length winner going 5 ½ furlongs Sept. 10 at Del Mar, Sandy Bottom was the recipient of a crush of late wagering action and went off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of five juvenile fillies, returning $4.40, $3.00 and $2.40.
Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Sandy Bottom, who was purchased for $145,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling, picked up $54,822 for the win, increasing her earnings to $104,022.
“I think it was a big improvement over her first race because when you bounce out from a maiden to a stakes, it really shows a lot of talent, even with a small stake with a smaller purse…The best part of the filly is her mentality, everything she does, she makes it look like an older filly. She does nothing like she’s two years old, everything looking bright for her future.”
For her part, Tambo had every reason to get discouraged, but she did not as she stayed gamely and cut a three-length advantage at the sixteenth pole to three quarters of a length on the money.
Off at 6-1 with Antonio Fresu, Tambo paid $5.80 and $3.20.
Last by about 2 ½ lengths after the first half mile, French-bred Becky’s Dream checked in third, 3 ½ lengths behind Tambo. Off at 4-1 with Tiago Periera, she paid $2.80 to show.
Bob Baffert’s Dua, the 6-5 morning line favorite under Ramon Vazquez, never threatened at 8-5 and finished fourth, 3 ½ lengths back of Becky’s Dream.
Fractions on the race were 22.12, 45.20 and 57.58.
