Conquest Tsunami Goes Wire-to-Wire in Clocker's Corner
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Conquest Tsunami wins the Clocker's Corner on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita.
In a completely dominant performance, Gary Barber's Conquest Tsunami made every pole a winning one as he cruised to a 4 1/4-length victory in the $70,000 Clockers' Corner Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke.
Trained by Peter Miller, the 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding completed 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course at Santa Anita Park in 1:11.02—just a quarter second off of the track record of 1:10.73—after setting fractions of :21.06 and :42.65 for the first half-mile.
"(It was) my first time on him," Van Dyke said. "Pete said to try and make the lead. I watched film and know that the last time on the hill, Cistron (today's runner-up) went ding-dong with him on the lead and they went a little faster than I did today. Today, I was able to get an easy lead, well not necessarily easy, but when he's able to be alone he relaxes better, puts his ears up, and then he kicks on better."
Most recently third in the Jan. 19 Palos Verdes Stakes going six furlongs on the main track, Conquest Tsunami was off as the 7-5 favorite as he returned to turf in a field of nine older horses. He paid $4.80, $3.40, and $2.80 across the board.
A winner of the Daytona Stakes (G3T) over the course last year, Conquest Tsunami now has three wins from five tries down the hill. With the winner's share of $43,620, he now has earnings of $783,031 and an overall mark of 9-4-5 from 30 starts.
"His time was awfully fast." Miller said. "He liked that one week turn around. He was doing so well, Gary Barber and I, we're not afraid to do that with the right horse, right situation, and sound horse. If (the horse) has lots of energy and feels good, let's go."
Cistron held Eddie Haskell at bay to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths. Secretary At War, Blended Citizen, Pubilius Syrus, Hunt (IRE), Calculator, and Regal Born completed the order of finish.
Bred in Ontario by Josham Farms and Yvonne Schwabe Thoroughbreds, Conquest Tsunami is out of the El Corredor mare Classic Neel.