Dubawi Heights tracked pace-setter Celtic Princess for their
entire mile and an eighth journey on Hollywood
Park’s turf course before
surging ahead in the final strides to capture the $250,000 Gamely Stakes (Grade
I) by a head.
Sent off as the 9-to-2 third choice, the four-year-old
Irish-bred daughter of Dubawi won for the fourth straight time, all with Joel
Rosario aboard, and pushed her earnings over $650,000.
“It means everything. I’m delighted for all the owners,” trainer
Simon Callaghan said regarding the first Grade I victory of his career. “Everything we’ve asked she’s
come good for us. She’s improved and progressed each time.”
The Rosario/Rafael Bejarano exacta returned $48.10, while
9-to-5 favorite Cozi Rosie ran on to complete a trifecta that paid $214.40.
In the race prior, the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (Grade
III) was filled with drama and irony as 8-to-1 long shot Camp Victory
with Joe Talamo aboard was the beneficiary when 2-to-1 second choice Amazombie
was disqualified for interference through the stretch.
Despite crossing the wire a half length in front, Amazombie, who was also disqualfied from a victory on the turf at Del Mar last summer,
was placed third because Mike Smith repeatedly bumped M One Rifle, ridden by
Smith’s ex-girlfriend Chantal Sutherland, as he swung out to shoot through a
hole between runners.
After getting disqualified for a similar infraction aboard
St. Trinians in the Milady Handicap (Grade II) last week, Talamo is currently
serving a suspension and only allowed to ride in graded stakes races.
Talamo also won Saturday’s American Handicap (Grade II)
aboard Ryehill Dreamer and joked, “Just talk to my agent. He’s going to put me
in just stakes races from now on.”
After claiming the four-year-old son of Forest Camp for
$40,000 out of a turf race going a mile three races back, Mike Mitchell worked
his magic to get a graded stakes victory over the best main track sprinters in California.
“We got even,” said Mitchell, who trains both Camp Victory
and St. Trinians, when I asked him if he felt a sense of redemption.
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