(Chart, Equibase)
Och Tamale, a half-brother to last year's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Buddy Gil, was fourth in his debut Thursday in the fifth race at Santa Anita, a $47,000 maiden race on the about 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course.A 3-year-old gelded son of Caller I.D. from the For Really mare Really Rising, Och Tamale was the 5-2 second choice in a field of eight.Buddy Gil won the Baldwin Stakes (gr. IIIT) and San Felipe (gr. II) before his victory by a head over Indian Express in the Derby. He was sixth in last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), subsequently undergoing two surgeries for removal of bone chips in his knees. He recently returned to competition with a ninth-place finish in the opening-day Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita.Billingsley Creek Ranch and Desperado Stable own Och Tamale, who is trained by Jeff Mullins, also the conditioner of Buddy Gil. Och Tamale had trained well for his debut while stabled at Hollywood Park.Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Och Tamale was last early, moved up outside of rivals and angled in to be fourth at the head of stretch, about four lengths behind pacesetter Chosen Hero. He lacked much response while coming out in the stretch and finished 5 3/4 behind the fist across the wire, Erik's the Charm, who was disqualified and placed second. Everest Stables' Wimplestiltskin, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., was awarded the victory. The final time was 1:13 4/5.
