Whatmakessammyrun Upsets Eddie D Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Whatmakessammyrun lands his first graded score in the Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Trainer Mark Glatt suspected a try on Santa Anita Park's 6 1/2-furlong downhill course could be just the trick for his turf sprinter Whatmakessammyrun .
That gut feeling proved reliable Oct. 1 when Whatmakessammyrun and jockey Joe Bravo launched a gutsy move between horses on the dirt crossover to seize the lead and then hold off all stretch challengers for a three-quarter-length victory in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes—the first graded stakes score for the 4-year-old We Miss Artie gelding.
After the race Glatt said on the Santa Anita simulcast that he told owner Sam Herzberg that the added distance should help Whatmakessammyrun, who finished fifth in the five-furlong Green Flash Handicap (G3T) Sept. 4 at Del Mar and second in an August allowance-level turf race there at the same distance.
"There were these five- and five-and-a-half-furlong races to choose from and I kept telling Sam, 'When we get a chance to get on the hill with this horse, he's going to really improve because he's just not quite fast enough going five-eighths and then he's got to negotiate in between horses and traffic,'" Glatt said. "It worked out beautiful today. They went pretty quick in front of them. Joe gave him a great ride and I'm just happy for Sam."
For Glatt the victory completed a grade 2 double as he sent out Howbeit to victory in the race before the Eddie D, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes.
Herzberg, who races as Sterling Racing, was thrilled after watching his namesake that he purchased for $30,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training hold off a stretch run by eventual runner-up Lane Way . Favored Gregorian Chant , sent off at 2-1, finished third.
"What can I say? He ran just like Mark predicted he would run on the downhill course," Herzberg said. "He needed the extra distance and I looked at the board, I said, '21-1? I'm betting money on him now.' He definitely didn't let me down today."
The connections of Whatmakessammyrun enjoy the trophy presentation for the Eddie D Stakes
That bet and others lowered the winner's odds only a bit; he returned $38 for a $2 win bet.
Early on Whatmakessammyrun rated sixth as Goliad led through a contested quarter-mile in :21.38 and half-mile in :43.12. In the turn Whatmakessammyrun improved position before powering through rivals at the top of the stretch. Bravo, aboard for the first time, proved to be a good fit.
"I got beaten by him several times so I was able to watch him. I was never blessed to sit on him, but I felt like I knew him because I watched his races so much. He's a good horse," Bravo said. "He just ran faster than everybody else turning for home."
Whatmakessammyrun is the second graded stakes winner for his dam, the Touch Gold mare Reggae Rose, who counts multiple grade 3 winner Shakimat among her six winners from eight starters.