Back from a four-month layoff, Sumter looms large Aug. 7 in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar, where Preakness Stakes (G1) runner Armagnac makes his turf debut.
Sumter, a homebred son of War Front , is on a three-race winning streak for owners Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass and trainer Richard Mandella, the last two in stakes races. He took the April 2 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his most recent start after acing the Feb. 19 Pasadena Stakes at the Southern California oval. Both black-type scores came at a mile after a Nov. 14 maiden score over five furlongs at Del Mar.
Mike Smith will be in the irons from post 4 in the La Jolla, a 1 1/16-mile turf test that drew a field of 6. Sumter carries the high weight assignment of 124 pounds and is 9-5 morning-line favorite.
Armagnac was seventh in the May 21 Preakness last out for Tim Yakteen at Pimlico Race Course and is back in the barn of Bob Baffert. The Quality Road colt has maiden and allowance scores to his credit for a conglomerate of powerhouse industry figures led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet Stables, and Madaket Stables. He carries 120 pounds, including Florent Geroux, from the inside post.
Cabo Spirit and Armagnac share 5-2 odds on the morning line. The former is a Kretz Racing runner trained by George Papaprodromou, who is looking to get the Pioneerof the Nile gelding back to the winner's circle for the first time since the Jan. 2 Eddie Logan Stakes going a mile on the Santa Anita lawn. Joe Bravo rides from post 5 as part of a 123-pound impost; Cabo Spirit was second last out in the June 4 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita.
Del Mar, Sunday, August 07, 2022, Race 5Entries: La Jolla H. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Armagnac (KY)
Florent Geroux
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
2
2Stayincotai (IRE)
Umberto Rispoli
119
Peter Eurton
6/1
3
3Perfect Flight (KY)
Ramon A. Vazquez
116
Peter Miller
8/1
4
4Sumter (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
Richard E. Mandella
9/5
5
5Cabo Spirit (KY)
Joe Bravo
123
George Papaprodromou
5/2
6
6Brit's Wit (KY)
Declan Cannon
117
Dan Blacker
8/1