Shady Tiger stalked, then kicked to the wi by 5-1/2 lengths (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
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By Maribeth Kalinich
ARCADIA, Calif.— Edward Rusty J. Brown’s homebred Shady Tiger brought his A-game under jockey Juan Hernandez to win the $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita on Derby Day.
Winning this first stakes for trainer Phil D’Amato, the 3-year-old Smiling Tiger colt, winning three-for-three, is now undefeated this year.
Prince Prancealot set the pace zippy with a 22.27 opening quarter with under pressure from outer rivals in the early going, while Shady Tiger stalked off the rail with Stay On The Fence and, antsy in the starting gate, Tom Seaver stalked on the outside.
Brushed leaving the gate, Two By Four raced near the back off the rail then moved inside.
Shady Tiger had to take hold when running on heels at the nine-sixteenths pole as Stay On The Fence waiting for room to develop sitting behind the leaders
Angled out at the five-sixteenths pole, Shady Tiger took aim four wide into the stretch, surged clear approaching the eighth pole and won by 5-1/2 lengths going away.
“To be honest, he surprised me a little bit because on paper it looked like I was going to be too far back but today this guy brought his game. He broke really sharp, and I was just a couple of lengths behind the speed. I was in a perfect spot the whole race,” said Hernandez.
Stay On The Fence lacked room in upper stretch, altered out at the eighth pole and got up for second.
Two By Four moved out to the two path around the bend, tipped out into the stretch, finished willingly and missed the place.
Antsy in the starting gate, Tom Seaver challenged three deep at the five-sixteenths pole, led into the stretch, yielded to the winner shortly after and flattened to fourth.
Prince Prancealot fought inside a pair of foes past the five-sixteenths pole, lost command exiting the bend and gave way finishing sixth behind Known Idea and Refocus.
Puddin Head Jones and Last Call London complete the order of finish. Lord Prancealot was scratched by the vet and Uncle Chilly was a Rainer scratch.
“That was an impressive performance. This horse has done nothing wrong in the mornings. He has impressed me, and I think he wants to go longer the way he galloped out today, remarked D’Amato.
“We’ve been trying to get him to go in a two-turn race, but there really hasn’t been anything. I think in the months to come there’s a Cal-bred stake going long. Who knows, he might be able to compete against open company going long.
“I thought Tom Seaver got the jump on him at the turn and Juan was stuck on the inside, but when Juan got him in the clear, he exploded. He’s a nice horse, and I think he just keeps getting better and better.”
Shady Tiger rewarded his faithful with $8.00 for the win, $4.20 for place and $3.00 for show. Runner-up Stay On the Fence was a bit more generous with $17.40 and 8.20 with Two by Four paint $4.20 for show.
Finishing second on debut at Del Mar, California-bed out of Divine Legacy (Full Mandate) has been perfect since at Santa Anita with three wins in a row for 2024.
