Sumter Seeks Another Downhill Stakes Win in Daytona

An overflow field of 12 is locked and loaded for a $100,000 opportunity to race 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill June 13 at Santa Anita Park in the Daytona Stakes (G3T), and the field appears to be wide open.

Perry and Ramona Bass' homebred Sumter  is the lone entrant to have earned a graded win this year, which came by a nose in the March 14 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) after stalking the pace. That was also the last time the 7-year-old War Front   gelding sprinted down the hill as he returned April 18 to run fifth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, over a flat mile at Santa Anita. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith retains the mount for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and will navigate from the far outside post.

Video: San Simeon S. (G3T)

Trainer Mark Glatt returns two graded-quality contenders from layoffs in First Peace  and Freedom's Not Free .

Racing for Rancho Temescal, Red Baron's Barn, and Rodney Orr, First Peace won the California Crown Eddie D Stakes (G2T) to close out his 2024 campaign, but would not race again for 11 months. Off the board in both starts last year, the son of Funtastic   is back at age 6 returning from an 8 1/2-month layoff having breezed on a consistent pattern since mid-March.

Glatt also returns Freedom's Not Free from a 9 1/2-month layoff since finishing second in the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2T). The 4-year-old Omaha Beach   colt has traditionally shown early speed in his route contests and cuts back to a sprint after five two-turn races. He races for Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, Valinor Racing Stable, Tom Corbett, Andy Kwan, and Jay Wagner.