Salesman, Seal Team Win Undercard Stakes at Santa Anita

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Salesman, Seal Team Win Undercard Stakes at Santa Anita
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Salesman wins the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Heading into the Nov. 4 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G3), most of the curiosity surrounded favored Siskany  making his first start on dirt. But when the 1 5/8-mile opener of Breeders' Cup Saturday at Santa Anita Park was over, all eyes were on a different European import.

In fact, Salesman  was so dominant in his gate-to-wire victory that the race was in hand long before it was over. 


The 6-year-old put in a performance that would make his sire, Dubawi , proud. It took him a while to get there, though. After 22 starts in France, he came to the United States and under the tutelage of Richard Mandella. 

After a ninth in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) and a 12th in the Wickerr Stakes, he showed in the Los Alamitos Special Stakes last time out.

"He just came to himself a couple of months ago," Mandella said. "All of a sudden just finally got it."

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With Flavien Prat in the irons Salesman got clear early and maintained a modest lead through the first mile, keeping favored Siskany at bay. But Prat, who had never ridden Salesman, pulled away over the final 5/8ths for an 8 1/4-length edge over Win the Day . Kiss Today Goodbye  finished third. Siskany finished last in the field of five, 57 1/2 lengths off the lead. 

"I was just cruising; he was in nice rhythm and ran a great race," Prat said. 

The Wertheimer and Frere homebred improved to 4-6-5 from 26 career starts with $335,300 in earnings. In his four starts since coming to the U.S., Salesman is 1-0-1 with $165,750 in earnings. 

Seal Team Up to Stakes Challenge in Twilight Derby

After a steady progression through his first four career starts, Seal Team  proved up to the challenge of his stakes debut in the $250,000 Twilight Derby (G2T) on the Santa Anita Park turf.

After rating in eighth early in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, the son of Kentucky-based War Front   uncorked a powerful move to earn a half-length win over grade 1-placed Silver Knott , with grade 2 winner Webslinger  another nose back in third. Seal Team completed the race in 1:47.29 on firm turf.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said Seal Team, a homebred for Perry and Ramona Bass, has been as steady as his past performances would indicate as he won his second start—and two-turn debut—in a maiden special weight race in August at Del Mar, followed by a third-place finish and then a win in allowance-level races at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

"He's always made us feel like he was really good," Mandella said.

Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said Mandella had expressed that confidence in the horse.

"The first time I worked this horse Mr. Mandella said I want you to ride this horse because I think he's going to be a very important horse for the barn," Rispoli said. 

English-bred Seal Team is the first winner from two starters out of grade 2 winner Mrs McDougal, by Medaglia d'Oro  . Seal Team is the seventh group or graded stakes winner for War Front, who will stand the 2024 season for $100,000 at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.