ARCADIA, Calif. (March 18, 2021)–Nick Alexander’s homebred Desmond Doss, trainer Craig Dollase’s Brandothebartender, Peter Eurton’s Jetovater and Andrew Lerner’s Jamming Eddy all rate big chances among a wide-open field of seven older horses bred or sired in California going six furlongs on turf in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita.
Named for the conscientious objector that would become a World War II Medal of Honor winner, Desmond Doss shortens up off a big second going one mile on dirt to multiple stakes winner Fashionably Fast in the statebred Tiznow Stakes here on Feb. 28. Sent to the lead after breaking slowly and faced with intense pressure throughout, Desmond Doss, a 5-year-old full horse by Grazen, went head and head with Fashionably Fast the final three sixteenths of a mile and missed by a head in a thriller while holding Brandothebartender off by the same margin for second money.
With a win and two seconds on dirt at the current meet, Desmond Doss should handle the transition to turf without any problem, as he has two wins from five turf starts at Santa Anita. A first condition allowance winner from off the pace versus statebreds going 5 ½ furlongs on turf seven starts back on Jan. 5, 2020, Desmond Doss, who has routed in his last two starts, will hope to be rolling late under regular rider Abel Cedillo.
Trained by Steve Miyadi, Desmond Doss, who is out of the Malek mare Malley Girl, will be seeking his first stakes win in what will be his fifth added money assignment. With an overall mark of 10-3-2-0, he has earnings of $161,951.
Last in a field of five, 2 ¼ lengths off the Tiznow lead after the first quarter mile, Brandothebartender appeared to have had a dream trip, but couldn’t collar the top two on the money. An 8-year-old gelding by Tribal Rule, “Brando” will be making his fourth appearance in the Sensational Star, a race in which he’s managed two third-place finishes, in 2019 and 2020.
Winless in four starts at the current meet, Brandothebartender’s lone stakes win came at five furlongs over the Santa Anita turf in the California Flag Handicap at age five in October, 2018. Owned by Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis, Brandothebartender, who is 41-6-6-15, will be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Umberto Rispoli and will hope to be rolling late as he cuts back in distance from a pair of main track routes.
Jetovator comes off a super 2 ¼ length win versus open allowance company at 6 ½ furlongs on turf here Feb. 20 and will no doubt get plenty of betting attention as he shortens up a sixteenth of a mile with Ruben Fuentes up. A six furlong turf Cal-bred allowance winner on Dec. 27, he’s won two out of his last three starts and appears more than ready for his first stakes assignment on Sunday.
Bred in California by Sharon Alesia and Ciaglia Racing, LLC, Jetovator, a 5-year-old gelding by Grazen, is out of the Gimmeawink mare Jet Blue Girl and is 10-3-1-3 over the course. With an overall mark of 18-3-4-5, he’s owned by Ciaglia Racing, LLC and SAF Racing. Look for Jetovator to blast off early and employ front-running tactics, as he did in his Feb. 20 win.
Fifth, beaten 4 ¾ lengths going six furlongs on dirt by ultra impressive repeat winner Brickyard Ride two starts back in the Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint on Jan. 16, Jamming Eddy was subsequently claimed for $40,000 out of a second place finish as the 8-5 favorite going 6 ½ furlongs on turf Feb. 21 by trainer Andrew Lerner. With leading rider Flavien Prat sticking with him, Jamming Eddy looms a serious threat in what will be his second stakes assignment.
A 5-year-old gelding by Square Eddie out of the Tapit mare Walkingonadream, Jamming Eddie is 26-4-4-6 overall.
THE $100,000 SENSATIONAL STAR STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
- Jamming Eddy–Flavien Prat–122
- Desmond Doss–Abel Cedillo–122
- Jetovator–Ruben Fuentes–122
- Royal Trump–Edwin Maldonado–122
- Margot’s Boy–Juan Hernandez–122
- Prodigal Son–Tyler Baze–122
- Brandothebartender–Umberto Rispoli–124
First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. All of Santa Anita’s races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.