Avanzare Responds for Stevens in Arcadia Win
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Avanzare pressed the pace before kicking clear in the stretch and scoring a clear win from fast-finishing Za Approval in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT) Jan. 31 at Santa Anita Park .
With Gary Stevens riding for trainer Tom Proctor, Avanzare posted his sixth win from 12 career starts as he comfortably held back Za Approval in a 1 1/4-length victory as the 5-1 fourth choice. Home Run Kitten settled for third, three-quarters of a length behind Za Approval, who willingly edged past in the stretch to deny him second.
Avanzare covered one mile in 1:34.17 on turf rated as firm. He has won half of his 10 starts on the grass. His only other stakes win came in last year's Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) on Polytrack at Arlington International Racecourse.
A 5-year-old son of Grand Reward, Avanzare was cutting back in distance and switching back to turf off a third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver Stakes (gr. III) on Polytrack Nov. 29 at Del Mar. The $120,000 winner's share of the Arcadia purse increased his lifetime earnings to $385,180.
Stevens moved ever closer to his 5,000th milestone win in North America; the Arcadia triumph put the Hall of Fame jockey just one victory shy of the mark.
"I breezed him five days ago on the dirt and when I looked at the work, he had the second-fastest work that morning," said Stevens, referring to a five-furlong main track breeze in :59 flat Jan. 26 at Santa Anita. The move ranked second of 51 at the distance.
Lacking the necessary finishing kick for Corey Nakatani, 6-5 favorite Kaigun was a non-threatening fourth in the seven-horse field.
El Nino Terrible was quick to lead for Fernando Perez while Stevens brought Avanzare up to stalk from second, two lengths back, as the opening quarter went in a quick :23.05. Avanzare drew closer and pressed that opponent just a head back through a half in :46.95 and three-quarters in 1:10.59 and grabbed the advantage into the stretch as El Nino Terrible faded.
Trying to go last to first, Za Approval advanced to fifth after the first quarter and was third entering the stretch as Home Run Kitten rallied past. But coming on strong in the lane, Za Approval got the measure of Home Run Kitten but could not get close to the winner.
Avanzare, who is trained by Tom Proctor, paid $13.80, $6.20, and $3.80, while Za Approval returned $4.40 and $3.20. Home Run Kitten brought $3 to show.
Edge of Reality was 1 1/4 lengths behind Kaigun in fifth, followed by El Nino Terrible and Baccelo to complete the order of finish. Play Hard to Get and Talco were scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds, Avanzare is out of the unraced Theatrical mare Turn the Tide. John Youngblood, who owns the gelding with Donato Lanni, bought him for $52,000 at the 2012 Ocala Breeders' Sale Co. June 2-year-olds in training sale. Cutting Edge Equine, agent, consigned.
In his first trip through a sales ring, Avanzare was a $1,100 yearling purchased by Linda Sims from Harry L. Landry Bloodstock's consignment at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale.