After displaying a wicked late kick in winning the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), Tamarando will attempt two turns for the first time against 10 opponents in the $250,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park.
Tamarando rallied from ninth on the turn in the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity and still had five rivals to beat a furlong out as he flew home to prevail by half a length on the Polytrack Sept. 4. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams' homebred will be making his initial appearance on dirt in the 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
A big field, which also includes Dance With Fate and Can the Man , second and third, respectively, in the Del Mar Furturity, awaits Tamarando. The California-bred colt by Bertrando graduated by beating state-breds Aug. 18 in his third start.
The FrontRunner, a Breeders’ Cup "Win and You’re In" prep for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 2, is race 7 at 4 p.m. PDT on a Saturday program that includes four other grade I events. The race, known until last year as the Norfolk Stakes, is now named for Santa Anita's clubhouse restaurant.
Tamarando, seeking his third win from five starts, will break from the middle of the pack from post 6 with Julien Leparoux on board once again. The dark bay youngster has been training over the Cushion Track at Betfair Hollywood Park since the Del Mar meet ended.
Dance With Fate was a troubled second from far off the pace in the Futurity after he bumped at the start and was boxed in at the three-eighths pole. He retains the services of Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard for all three of Dance With Fate's previous starts including an open maiden allowance score Aug. 11 at Del Mar.
Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, Florida-bred Dance With Fate is trained by Peter Eurton. The Two Step Salsa colt has had two quick half mile works at Santa Anita since his last start.
Kaleem Shah's Can the Man will attempt to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the race. Baffert won the FrontRunner last year with Power Broker . Can the Man, a $320,000 Barretts May 2-year-old in training purchase, also had a bit of a troubled trip in the Futurity, ducking inward from his inside post shortly after the break in his second start. Despite that, the Kentucky-bred bay son of hot sire Into Mischief had a one-length lead at the eighth pole before finishing one length behind the winner. Martin Garcia rides again.
Baffert also enters Roundupthelute, a two-length winner of the C. B. Afflerbaugh Stakes at Barretts Sales & Racing (formerly Fairplex Park) Sept. 11 in his second start. He is the only starter in the field with experience on a natural dirt track.
Ontology remains a maiden after four starts for trainer Simon Callaghan and Reddam Racing, but has been knocking on the door. He had runner-up finishes in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship this summer and the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf in his most recent try Sept. 4 going one mile, as well as a fourth-place finish in Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes (gr. II). He'll break from the rail with Corey Nakatani aboard.
Amerman Racing's Schoolofhardrocks, a homebred son of Rock Hard Ten, was a sharp debut maiden winner going one mile at Del Mar Aug. 31. He continues to work handily for trainer David Hofmans since moving to Santa Anita, including a five-furlong move in 1:00 4/5 Sept. 25.
Restricted maiden victor Better Bet and non-winners Bond Holder, Even Echo, Flat Gone, and Test Ride complete the field.
$250,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I, Race 7, 4 p.m.), 2YOs, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Ontology (KY), C S Nakatani, S Callaghan
2. Schoolofhardrocks (KY), V Espinoza, D E Hofmans
3. Even Echo (KY), F F Martinez, M K Cho
4. Can the Man (KY), M Garcia, B Baffert
5. Roundupthelute (KY), G K Gomez, B Baffert
6. Tamarando (CA), J R Leparoux, J Hollendorfer
7. Dance With Fate (FL), R Bejarano, P Eurton
8. Better Bet (CA), A Delgado, M Harrington
9. Bond Holder (VA), M Gutierrez, D F O'Neill
10. Test Ride (KY), E A Maldonado, M Pender
11. Flat Gone (KY), B Blanc, J K Desormeaux
All carry 122 pounds.
Blinkers On: Better Bet
Del Mar Futurity winner Tamarando tries two turns in the FrontRunner Stakes.
Benoit Photo