California-bred Bettys Bambino, 3-for-4 on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park, makes his stakes debut Dec. 28 in the $100,000 Daytona (gr. IIIT).
The Daytona, for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course, attracted a field of 11. It's the eighth race on a nine-race Sunday program.
Bettys Bambino, owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, was last seen during the fall meet at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old Unusual Heat gelding cleared two open allowance conditions, both with easy, open-lengths victories on the downhill turf course by a combined margin of 9 1/2 lengths.
In March at Santa Anita, Bettys Bambino won an entry-level allowance test for California-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Martin Garcia, aboard for the last two victories, gets a return call at 119 pounds for trainer Peter Eurton from post 9, which could prove an advantageous starting spot. Bettys Bambino is 3-1 on the morning line.
Hronis Racing's Sweet Swap, a two-time stakes winner on the downhill course including the grade III San Simeon, is the 5-2 morning line favorite given his past experience. The 5-year-old Candy Ride horse finished a close, closing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) at Santa Anita at the distance for trainer John Sadler.
Sweet Swap, to be ridden by Corey Nakatani at 121 pounds, drew the rail for the Daytona but does his best running from just off the pace, so it's doubtful he'd be forced into an early pace war.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, December 28, 2014, Race 8Entries: Daytona S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Sweet Swap (KY) Corey S. Nakatani 121 John W. Sadler - 2 2Fleet Eagle (KY) Tiago Josue Pereira 119 Paula S. Capestro - 3 3Clubhouse Ride (KY) Joseph Talamo 121 Craig Anthony Lewis - 4 4Eddie's First (CA) Mario Gutierrez 117 Doug F. O'Neill - 98 5Indianapolis (KY) SCRATCHED 0 UNKNOWN - 5 6Ankeny Hill (KY) Tyler Baze 119 Mark Glatt - 6 7Majestic Kitten (KY) Martin A. Pedroza 117 David E. Hofmans - 7 8Mr. Sexy (KY) Elvis Trujillo 119 George Papaprodromou - 8 9Bettys Bambino (CA) Martin Garcia 119 Peter Eurton - 9 10Play Hard to Get (KY) Alex O. Solis 117 J. Eric Kruljac - 10 11Lil Bit O'Fun (KY) Rafael Bejarano 119 Philip D'Amato -
