Longshot One More Bid Outlasts Favorites in Mathis Mile
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Photo: Benoit Photo
One More Bid (C) edges Balnikhov (L) and Sumter (R) to win the Santa Anita Mathis Mile at Santa Anita Park
Heading into the $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) Dec. 26, the spotlight was predominantly focused on Balnikhov and Sumter in the race for 3-year-olds.
When the opening race of the Santa Anita Park winter-spring meet ended, those two horses had earned stakes-placings but, One More Bid —the longest shot in the field of six—beat them to the wire and brought home the victory by a nose in 1:33.67 on the firm turf.
With odds that were 10-1 in the morning line and closed at 16-1, One More Bid had only broken his maiden last time out—his eighth attempt. Perhaps that winning feeling was one the California Chrome gelding couldn't shake.
"He's getting more professional now," winning jockey Ramon Vazquez told FanDuel TV. "He's getting better every race. Now he let's me work with him."
After breaking from post 2 in the field of six, One More Bid stalked from second on the rail as Sumter led from the start through fractions of :23.31, 46.50, and 1:10.16.
While Sumter led the way, One More Bid and Vazquez moved into the two path in the backstretch. As the field made the turn for home One More Bid took aim for the drive while Balnikhov, the 8-5 favorite off a victory in the Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keenland, used his closing speed to close the gap while rallying three wide.
With Sumter on the rail and One More Bid to the frontrunner's right, Balnikhov made it a three-way battle to the finish. Sumter faded to third in the closing moments, leaving the favorite and the longshot to settle matters. One More Bid had just enough to hold off the challenge and delivered a $35 win ticket.
Following Balnikhov and Sumter were I'm A Gambler , Handy Dandy , and Time to Party . Agatino was scratched.
"I felt like I had a lot of horse on the backside," Vazquez said. "I was waiting for the moment. This horse continues to get better and better. This horse really dug in in the stretch. I don't look at the odds on the board. This horse has been really working good and doing good. I never pay attention to odds; I ride my horse."
Owned by California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, and trainer Ryan Hanson, One More Bid improves to 2-4-1 in nine starts in his first season of racing with earnings of $234,640. The victory is the second graded stakes win for Hanson, who previously sent out Weston to victory in the 2020 Best Pal Stakes (G2).
One More Bid was purchased by Matt Dohman (Amanda Murphy, agent) of California Racing Partners for $55,000 from the Pike Racing consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita 2-year-olds in Training Sale.
"I'm over the moon right now, I mean the horse has been training really well but I thought he could win," said Dohman. "I was a little perplexed that he went off at such long odds, but he ran really well."
One More Bid is out of the Scat Daddy mare Never Grow Old, who also has a filly (Modernize Queen) who has placed in Japan. The pair have combined to earn $257,029. California Chrome stood this year at Arrow Stud in Japan for $35,000.