ARCADIA, Calif. - More than 43 months after his first appearance in a graded stakes, the 7-year-old gelding Sumter finally had a breakthrough victory at that level in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
Sumter ($7.80) may not have been trainer Richard Mandella’s best runner in the $100,500 race. Seal Team, the 2-1 favorite, finished last of six by 3 1/2 lengths in his first start since May. On Saturday, Seal Team was last as the field crossed from the hillside turf course to the main turf course, where he ducked out severely.
“I wouldn’t have been surprised if he would have run by them, considering the way he was training,” Mandella said on Sunday.
A rematch between Sumter and Seal Team is likely to occur in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on April 18.
Both Sumter and Seal Team are stakes winners around two turns for owners Ramona and Perry Bass. Sumter has won four minor or restricted races at a mile on turf since late winter 2022. Seal Team won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in November 2023.
Sumter started in his 16th graded stakes in the San Simeon at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. He was second by a head in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course in December 2024, and second by 1 1/4 lengths in the same race on Dec. 29.
Sumter finished fourth by 2 3/4 lengths in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course on Feb. 8 in a loss that surprised Mandella.
“It was disappointing he didn’t have a better finish the other day, and I still don’t know why,” Mandella said in the winner’s circle on Saturday. “He came out of the race great, so I didn’t hesitate to come back. He ran his race today.”
Sumter has been responsible for Mandella’s last two stakes wins. Prior to Saturday, Mandella was winless with 15 starters in 17 stakes since Sumter won the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October.
Mandella has two candidates for stakes later this month – Subsanador in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 29, and Big City Lights in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes on the hillside turf course on March 22 or the $100,000 San Carlos Stakes.
Subsanador has not raced since a win in the Grade 1 California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita in September 2024.
Gold Phoenix to have different rider
The eight-time stakes winner Gold Phoenix will have a new, but familiar, rider for his scheduled second start of 2026 in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.
Hector Berrios, who rode Gold Phoenix to a win in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in July 2023, will have the mount for the second time, trainer Phil D’Amato said. Kazushi Kimura rode Gold Phoenix to a seventh-place finish by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 14.
Gold Phoenix was the even-money favorite and raced wide.
“We want to change things up,” D’Amato said. “Nothing against Kazushi.
“It was one of those things. We were stuck outside the whole way. It was after a layoff. We went the farthest and it showed.”
The field for the $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes is expected to include Mondego, Flashiest and Truly Quality, the first three finishers of the San Marcos Stakes.
Lovesick Blues works in Dubai
Lovesick Blues, winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July, worked a half-mile from the gate in 47.20 seconds at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Saturday in advance of the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Stakes there on March 28.
“He galloped out really nice,” trainer Librado Barocio said in a text message late Saturday evening. “He came back this morning in great condition.”
Barocio said he plans to give Lovesick Blues “a maintenance breeze” this Saturday. The $2 million Golden Shaheen is run at six furlongs.
Lovesick Blues, the 2025 California-bred Horse of the Year, has lost three times since the Bing Crosby, finishing second by a nose to Man O Rose in the California Flag Handicap for turf sprinters in October, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1, and fifth in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 14.
Lovesick Blues was shipped directly from Saudi Arabia to nearby Dubai after the Feb. 14 race.
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