From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 20, 2020)—Not satisfied with the early pace scenario, “Big Money” Mike Smith took charge turning up the backside of Saturday’s $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita, as he allowed his free-running Indian Peak to stretch his legs with the result a gutty half-length win as he covered 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.11. Trained by Golden Gate Fields-based Quinn Howey, the homebred colt by Comic Strip notched his first stakes win in his 10th career start and provided Howey with his first Santa Anita stakes victory as well.
A restrained fifth, about two lengths off the lead coming out of the first turn, Smith gave his mount his head and gained a neck advantage over favored Margot’s five furlongs out, but Margot’s Boy quickly reengaged at the rail and they basically went head and head to the sixteenth pole, where Indian Peak began to edge away.
“He just wanted to give it to ’em, which is a good thing, which I let him do the first quarter of the race, then backed it up the second quarter,” said Smith, who was aboard Indian Peak for the first time today. “He just has such a beautiful stride. I talked to the girl who rides him in the mornings and she said to just stay out of his way. So I listened to her.”
A close second in a one mile turf first condition allowance here on May 23, Indian Peak, who was bred in California by his owners, Dr. and Mrs. William T. Gray, was off at 5-2 in a field of seven sophomores bred or sired in California and paid $7.00, $3.40 and $2.60.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to Mike before the race, because of the way everything is set up now,” said Howey. “When Mike let him run early there, I was excited, because I’ve been wanting to tell riders to go ahead and let him run, that’s what he likes.
“It worked out great and to come to Santa Anita and win a stake like this…I feel really lucky to have the horse first of all. Just to have a horse like this, is incredible. When you’ve been claiming horses for $2,500 to run at Stockton for $4,000, this is really special.”
Out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, Indian Peak picked up $90,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $204,100. A close third in the El Camino Real Derby three starts back at Golden Gate, Indian Peak improved his overall record to 10-4-2-1.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, California Kook, the lone filly in the race, made a big run from off the pace to be second by a nose over Margot’s Boy and paid $5.00 and $2.60 while off at 5-1.
The even money favorite under Drayden Van Dyke, Margot’s Boy ran a game third and paid $2.20 to show while finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Descartes.
Fractions on the race were 23.41, 47.61, 1:11.75 and 1:36.05.