Anothertwistafate Lands Turf Score in San Gabriel
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Anothertwistafate wins the San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Peter Redekop's Anothertwistafate entered the $201,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park with a graded victory on dirt and a synthetic stakes win on his résumé. The 5-year-old son of Scat Daddy added a turf score to his record when he opened up under Joel Rosario in the 1 1/8-mile event and won by 2 1/4 lengths.
Anothertwistafate was fourth in his first race over the lawn, the Nov. 28 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar, which was also his first start for trainer Peter Miller. With previous trainer Blaine Wright, the dark bay won the Sept. 10 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3)—his first start in 16 months—on dirt at Emerald Downs and the 2019 El Camino Real Derby on synthetic at Golden Gate Fields.
Rosario and Miller teamed to win the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) with Hembree on New Year's Day at Santa Anita, and they doubled up on Southern California's weekend feature turf offerings with Anothertwistafate, who was newly outfitted with blinkers.
"The first-half mile, he was a little rank, then Joel got him to settle. Joel recommended the blinkers after his last race. He made the lead and was gawking around," Miller said. "We wanted him to have a target (in the San Gabriel). This is my first win for Mr. Redekop. It's a nice way to do it, in a grade 2, $200,000."
Bob and Jackie opened up by 2 1/2 lengths to lead the opening quarter in :23.02 and the half-mile in :46.95. Anothertwistafate was second with another four lengths between him and the rest of the field. The field closed in on Bob and Jackie as he ran three-quarters in 1:11.62, with Anothertwistafate only a half-length off the lead to the outside.
Once the field turned for home, Anothertwistafate drew off and completed the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.63. He paid $7.60 as the second choice.
"It was the first time with blinkers today and he broke really quick out of there," Rosario said. "It looked like the other horse (Bob and Jackie) really wanted to go to the lead, so I had to just let it work out a little bit, let him sit off, and he did. He was fine after I put him behind the other horse. He was good.
"Today having the blinkers on helped, he was more focused today. I never rode him before his last start, but he improved today."
Miller said he will consider the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) or $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park for Anothertwistafate's next start.
"We'll look at the Pegasus, both the turf and the dirt," he said. "The dirt is more money, but obviously, there's tougher horses in there."
Bob and Jackie finished second and Next Shares was third, followed by Multiplier, Bowies Hero, and Cleopatra's Strike. Even-money favorite and Seabiscuit winner Count Again was eased in the stretch and crossed the wire last before walking off the track.
"(Jockey) Juan (Hernandez) said when he asked him, he didn't pursue," trainer Phil D'Amato said of Count Again.
Bred in Kentucky by Pursuit of Success, Anothertwistafate is out of the First Defence mare Imprecation, a half sister to dual French group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado. Imprecation is also the dam of multiple stakes-placed Ajourneytofreedom (by Hard Spun ), 3-year-old Into Mischief filly Cease and Desist, and a 2-year-old Dialed In filly. She was reported bred to Uncle Mo for 2021.