Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire
Mike Willman/Santa Anita
ARCADIA, CA (April 23, 2023)—With conditions to his liking, Whatmakessammyrun made an eye catching from last-to-first run to take Sunday’s $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes, his second added money win down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. Trained by Mark Glatt and ridden by Joe Bravo, Whatmakessammyrun got about 6 ½ furlongs in 1:11.57 while prevailing by head over odds-on favorite Air Force Red.
Last in the run down the hill, about 2 ½ lengths behind Air Force Red approaching the dirt crossing at the top of the stretch, Whatmakessammyrun was full of run as Bravo tipped five-wide and from there, he was able to outrun the favorite to the wire.
“Good horses overcome everything,” said a typically self-deprecating Bravo. “(I) sat back, watched how the race unfolded. I just had to get him to the outside. That was it.”
Most recently fourth down the hill in the Grade III San Simeon Stakes March 5 and winless in three starts since taking the downhill Grade II Eddie D on Oct. 1, Whatmakessammyrun was the second choice in a field of five older horses at 7-2 and paid $9.40, $2.80 and $2.10.
A 5-year-old gelding by We Miss Artie out of the Touch Gold mare Reggae Rose, Whatmakessammyrun is owned by Sterling Racing, LLC. With the win, he picked up $60,000, increasing his earnings to $391,070 from an overall race record of 19-5-3-2.
“Joe gave him a great ride,” said Ryan Glatt, assistant to his father. “He tucked in behind the speed there, luckily the speed kind of fell apart and you know, 22 and one is not the quickest (quarter mile) down the hill, but it’s quick enough.
“He’s always been a really consistent horse. He’s put in some subpar performances here lately, and I think it’s most due to it being a rainy winter and he really doesn’t like the wet turf course. We have had some dry weather here lately and I think he likes the drier, firmer turf course.”
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Air Force Red stalked Speed Sunrise Journey early and had no apparent excuses. Off at 1-2, he paid $2.10 and $2.10 while finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Indian Peak.
Forwardly placed at the rail early, Indian Peak lacked the necessary stretch kick and paid $2.40 to show with Ramon Vazquez up while finishing 1 ¼ lengths better than Burnin Turf.
Fractions on the Siren Lure were 22.19, 44.04 and 1:05.90.
