Bombard Leads the Way to Daytona Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Bombard wins the Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Quick from the gate and head-to-head with speedy Law Abidin Citizen , heavily favored Bombard refused to be denied May 29 in the $100,000 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
The 8-year-old War Front gelding showed the way throughout and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths under Flavien Prat, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:14.47.
Most recently second April 25 in a tough allowance-level event going six furlongs on the Santa Anita lawn, and only beaten 3 1/4 lengths two starts back in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), Bombard was given blinkers for the first time in this his 18th career start and notched his first graded stakes score at a point in life where most of his peers have been retired.
"He's as good as he's ever been, for sure," trainer Richard Mandella said. "I don't race him much. He's got a few problems that we have to take care of, but he comes back and he pays us back. We'll keep doing that as long as he's having a good time and so are we."
Mandella also sent out LNJ Foxwoods' United on the Saturday card in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (G2T), where the multiple grade 2 winner finished last of four.
"Both (Bombard and United) are old geldings and are just big pets around the barn," he said. "When you walk by they usually stop, looking for a mint."
Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in a field of five older horses, Bombard paid $3.40, $2.80 and $2.10.
"He broke really well and put himself in the race," said Prat, who has ridden Bombard to victory five times.
Bombard set fractions of :21.63, :44.17, and 1:08.13 before putting away Law Abidin Citizen en route to victory.
Multiple graded stakes winner Law Abidin Citizen finally threw in the towel a sixteenth out and faded to fourth in his first start since last August, enabling others to secure the minor placings. Last for nearly the entire trip, Majestic Eagle unfurled a good stretch run to take second by a head over Commander . Jamming Eddy completed the order of finish.
Owned by Perry Bass II, Ramona Bass, Adele Dilschneider, and Dell Hancock, Bombard was making his second start of the year and now has a 6-6-2 record from 18 starts. He increased his earnings to $459,771.
Bombard was bred in Kentucky by Raydelz Stable out of the grade 3-winning Distorted Humor mare Witty, whose last reported foal was born in 2015.