Blitzkrieg Returns to Winning Form in American Stakes

With a solid work under his belt and a post position advantage, R3 Racing and Calara Farms' Blitzkrieg was hustled to the lead and made every pole a winning one en route to a one-length victory in the $102,000 American Stakes (G3T) June 21 at Santa Anita Park.

Ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza, the 5-year-old gelding by War Front  got a mile on firm turf in 1:33.46.

In his second Santa Anita start since running in four races in Dubai over the winter, Blitzkrieg broke from post 3 and enjoyed a half-length advantage on speedy Bolo, who broke from the far outside, into the clubhouse turn. 

Setting brisk fractions of :23.02, :46.42, 1:10.03, and 1:21.66, Blitzkrieg was never headed. He opened up 1 1/2 lengths on Bolo into the far turn and had plenty left to give, holding two-time grade 1 winner Bowies Hero at bay late. Sharp Samurai was 2 1/4 lengths back in third.

"His last work was phenomenal," said Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill. "He went six furlongs, on his own, in :58 and four (fifths) and galloped out in 1:12. He worked so good, we were tempted to put him back on the dirt, but we stuck to the plan and I'm glad we did. I told Victor that with Bolo drawn way outside, let's go and I think maybe we can steal it.  

"He's back, no question. This is the horse we thought we had all along."

Eighth at odds of 57-1 in the May 25 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T), Blitzkrieg was sent off at 7-1 in a field of nine 3-year-olds and up and paid $16.80, $7.80, and $4.60.

Blitzkrieg, who was claimed for $25,000 in January 2019, got his second graded stakes win and now has six wins from 21 starts, with earnings of $388,097. He was bred in Kentucky by Ramona Bass out of the Arch mare Bauble Queen.

"The pace was pretty quick, but he was doing it so easy," Espinoza said. "For me, every time I ride a horse like him with speed, I like to just sit up there and have fun." 

Video: American S. (G3T)