Big Bane Theory Stars in City of Hope Mile
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Favored Big Bane Theory threaded his way along the inside for Joe Talamo and put away the field in the stretch to register his first stakes win in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf Oct. 4 at Santa Anita Park .
Big Bane Theory scored as the lukewarm 5-2 choice in the field of 11, negotiating the mile in an eye-catching 1:32.38 over a very firm course while winning by 1 1/2 lengths. Mr. Commons, rallying from next-to-last at the mid-point for Tyler Baze, edged Avanzare for second by a neck.
Carla Gaines trains Big Bane Theory, a 5-year-old son of Artie Schiller bred and owned by Mark Devereaux and Scott Gross. The good-looking bay is out of the stakes-placed Alysheba mare Shebane.
Schoolofhardrocks, the only 3-year-old in the field, had control early, leading Soi Phet as Avanzare and Poshsky stalked through lively fractions of :22.48, :45.42 and 1:08.81. Big Bane Theory advanced along the inside between horses to reach contention in third leaving the quarter pole. Moved out for the drive, he got the advantage in upper stretch as the front-runners gave way.
"We had a perfect trip. I was able to save ground. They were flying up front, goin' pretty quick which was perfect for us," Talamo said. "I saw Soi Phet drifting out on the (far) turn a bit and I had to weave us through a bit of traffic that last part, but I got him out and then he did the rest."
Avanzare and Mr. Commons gave vain pursuit through the drive but there was no quit in Big Bane Theory, who held his challengers safe in the final furlong after opening up a two-length advantage.
Big Bane Theory was making his second start of the year in the City of Hope following a runner-up effort by a head in the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes on the Del Mar Polytrack Aug. 30. That was his first start since finishing a good fourth in the Citation Handicap (gr. IIT) over the Betfair Hollywood Park lawn Nov. 29.
"He's very, very good-minded, easy to train," Gaines said. "I didn't think they were going that slow. They picked it up pretty good. They were going 45. I was just thinking to myself I hope Joe sits, because they were going to come back to him. He saved ground. He rode him so beautifully."
The victory was his fourth, all on grass, in 11 lifetime starts for Big Bane Theory, who boosted his bankroll to $330,640.
Carrying 119 pounds, Big Bane Theory paid $7.60, $4, and $2.80. Mr. Commons returned $5.20 and and $3.80 and completed a $43.60 exacta. Avanzare, shipping in from Churchill Downs for trainer Tom Proctor, paid $5.80 to show.
Rock Me Baby was fourth, followed by Grand Tito, Trend, Soi Phet, Poshsky, Fast Track, Schoolofhardrocks, and Pepper Crown. Starspangled Heat scratched.