Tambo, under a powerful hand ride from Antonio Fresu at the rail, simply wouldn’t be denied in a thrilling stretch duel with Don’t Bring Crazy, under Frankie Dettori. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Peter Eurton’s multiple stakes placed Tambo proved gamest when it counted as she posted a head victory in Friday’s $67,000 Santa Anita allowance feature. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Tambo, off as the 9-5 favorite among a field of five sophomore fillies, got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.37.
Head and head throughout, it appeared that eventual runner-up Don’t Bring Crazy, ridden by Frankie Dettori, had the upper hand turning for home but Tambo, under a powerful hand ride from Fresu at the rail, simply wouldn’t be denied in a thrilling stretch duel.
Most recently a troubled third in the Grade III Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs here on Jan. 7, Tambo, who had been a close second in two previous ungraded stakes sprinting, returned $5.80, $3.00 and $2.20.
“She stumbled really bad in her last race and today she broke sharp, which really helped,” said Fresu, currently third in the Santa Anita jockey standings with 27 wins, five back of both Juan Hernandez and Flavien Prat. “She responded really well when I asked her, and she was very game. Nice filly.”
A Kentucky-bred daughter of the Medaglia d’Oro stallion Enticed out of the Flatter mare Flatter Me First, Tambo is owned by SAF Racing, Neil Haymes, James McCadden and William Strauss. Purchased for $70,000 by Dennis O’Neill out of a 2-year-old-in-training sale 11 months ago in Ocala, FLA, she picked up $40,200 for today’s win, increasing her earnings to $135,474 from an overall mark of 7-2-3-1.
“She ran great, love the way she came back at the rail and fought hard,” said part owner James McCadden. “We named the horse for a good friend, John Tamburello, it’s all about him. John passed away a couple years ago and this really means a lot.”
Trained by Doug O’Neill, Don’t Bring Crazy, second in the Santa Ynez on Jan. 7, ran a huge race in defeat, finishing some 8 ½ lengths in front of Beau Soleil. Off as the third choice at 5-2, she paid $3.40 and $2.80.
Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Beau Soleil was off at 30-1 and paid $5.40 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Irish-bred Blackpink.
Fractions on the race were 21.85, 44.31 and 1:09.75.
First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m
