Two Thirty Five Proves His Mettle in Oaklawn Allowance
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Photo: Coady Photography
Two Thirty Five wins an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park
After two near misses in graded company this year, Two Thirty Five was ready for a chance to press the reset button.
Entered in an April 19 allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park, the 6-year-old Stay Thirsty gelding accomplished just that when he scored a half-length victory and left several graded stakes competitors in his wake.
Sent out under Orlando Mojica from post 2, Two Thirty Five broke on top but settled just shy of the lead in third to track the pace. Multiple stakes winner Shang took command from the break and clicked off fractions of :23.01 and :46.79 through the half-mile.
Kershaw and jockey David Cohen stalked Shang in second and remained hot on the leader's heels as six furlongs went in 1:11.68. As the field made the turn for home, the pair could not maintain the momentum and gave way, allowing Two Thirty Five to make a three-wide move up the outside and get within striking distance of Shang at the top of the stretch.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, millionaire Lone Sailor shifted out from his position on the rail at the far turn and rallied hard to catch the frontrunners down the stretch. Two Thirty Five caught Shang in the final furlongs and pushed through to get the advantage at the wire.
Shang held for second, three lengths ahead of Lone Sailor in third.
The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on the dirt was 1:43.79 on a wet-fast (sealed) track.
Trained by Richard Baltas, Two Thirty Five last visited the winner's circle in August when he scored black type in the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar. He entered Sunday's race off a seventh-place finish in the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Prior to that effort, he finished second in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at the Southern California track.
Campaigned by Baltas, Tom Mansor, Tammi Nielsen, and Kim Rasmussen, Two Thirty Five was bred in Kentucky by A Footstep Away Syndicate out of the Giant's Causeway mare A Footstep Away. He improved his record to 6-4-5 from 23 starts with $306,465 in earnings.