January 5, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
More in Store
A noble effort from Barnes in the $200,000 San Vincente (G2) netted the lightly raced youngster ‘graded stakes winner status’ in his first test at the level.
The feature tilt on Santa Anita’s Saturday card went as expected for the even-money favorite, who breezed to an authoritative 5 ½-length victory from the second post position.
Although it’s still early, Barnes certainly looks the part of a horse that came with a shiny $3.2 million price tag.
The Juan Hernandez mount is off to a perfect 2-for-2 start and has $189,000 in earnings to date.
As expected, Barnes paid a modest $2.68 in the San Vincente.
Living the Rich-i Life
Making just her second North American start since venturing stateside from her home country of Chile, Richi (CHI) cashed in as the second choice in Saturday’s $100,000 Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita.
Squaring off against stablemate and heavy 1-5 closing line favorite Pleasant, Richi and rider Kazushi Kimura kept a close eye on their friend turned foe in the early stages.
The pair’s patience paid off down the stretch, as they were able to outlast Pleasant for the 1 ½-length triumph.
For capturing her first win on North American soil (1-1-0), and seventh overall through 11 starts, Richi paid $8 even.
Coal is Cool
If Coal Battle keeps winning at this rate, coal might actually be the gift of choice next Christmas.
The 3-year-old colt secured his third consecutive trip to the winner’s circle with a front-leading 4-length score in Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park.
After missing the podium in back-to-back contests, Coal Battle has been on a heater since the beginning of November.
What started with a 2 ½-length Jean Lafitte Stakes tally rolled over to December’s Remington Springboard Mile and remained alive in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones.
As fourth choice in the field of six, Coal Battle (9-2) paid $11 flat.
No Twist Needed
For those who believed Cyclone State would wind down at the stakes tier following a strong run at the lower ranks, the 3-year-old colt heard you.
Closing as the third choice in the $150,000 Jerome, Cyclone State (3-1) breezed past six challengers for the easy 3 ½-length victory.
While his lead did balloon to 8-lengths at the stretch, the Chad Summers charge still left the Aqueduct faithful in awe on Saturday afternoon.
The commanding conquest was Cyclone State’s third straight, and first of the stakes variety, across seven lifetime starts (3-1-0).
It paid $8.10.
A Dazzling Duel
The duel between 6-5 clubhouse leader Guns Loaded and 11-1 dart throw Treaty of Rome came down to the wire, but it was the latter who ultimately pulled through.
Although it was much closer than the 3-year-old colt expected, Guns Loaded hit the target a neck ahead of his rival to take the $122,250 Mucho Macho Man Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park.
The youngster’s second career triumph came under far more dramatic circumstances than the first (2 ¾-lengths), but they all count the same in the end.
Now sporting a 3: 2-1-0 line altogether, Guns Loaded’s latest success paid $4.60.