Sneaker with Umberto Rispoli up. (Benoit Photo)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—After coming up a half-length short of Grand Slam Smile in the Solana Beach Stakes going one mile on turf at Del Mar in August, a change in venue and cutback in distance helped turn the tables for Sneaker Sunday at Santa Anita.
In the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for statebred fillies and mares sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, Sneaker (3-1) and Grand Slam Smile (1-1) battled almost stride-for-stride over the final furlong with Sneaker ultimately prevailing by a head under Umberto Rispoli.
It was the first official stakes win for Sneaker, a 4-year-old filly by Oscar Performance owned by RL Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou. Issa Court (15-1) finished another 3 ¼ lengths back in third with Bit’s Tiger Magic (9-5), who set the pace, weakening to fourth.
“Going down the hill it’s a little less tactical than going a mile,” said Rispoli, who did not ride Sneaker in the Solana Beach when she raced up on the pace. “(Sneaker) has gate speed, but I thought going 6 ½ down the hill rather than a mile, she might be a couple of lengths back. I was able to manage my trip as well as I could.”
Sneaker came from just off the pace to win in a time of 1:11.73 following fractions of 21.79, 43.51 and 1:05.53.
Rispoli pointed out Sneaker may have inadvertently benefited when she floated out a touch passing the dirt crossing and entering the stretch.
“I think it was a blessing,” Rispoli said. “Grand Slam Smile is a tough customer. If you get close to her, she fights you back. I was lucky to be away from her. My filly fought very hard and was brave to win this race.”
Sneaker, a $120,000 auction buy as a yearling, improved to 17: 4-4-3 with $290,948 in earnings.
“She was training good toward this race, and she was doing well,” Papaprodromou said. “I kind of liked her. She ran once before down the hill and ran a good. I expected with a little shorter distance and going down the hill, she would like it.”
Sneaker paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.80. Grand Slam Smile, ridden by William Antongeorgi III for trainer Sean McCarthy, returned $2.80 and $2.20. Issa Court, with Hector Berrios up for trainer Bob Hess Jr., paid $4.60.
Live racing at Santa Anita resumes Monday with a special nine-race holiday card starting at 1 p.m. PT. On-track patrons receive free parking, $2 beers and hot dogs and $1 sodas. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. For more information, visit santaanita.com.
