Alert Bay Wins Mathis Brothers Mile Thriller

Fifth midway through the grass race, Alert Bay rallied between rivals in midstretch and surged past battling pacesetters Red Outlaw and Heart to Heart to grab the lead. Home Run Kitten, sixth in the early running, ranged up alongside to threaten the winner in the closing stages with Joe Talamo, but Alert Bay thrust out his neck at the finish line to claim his fourth consecutive stakes victory.

 

At 9-1 odds, the City Zip   gelding covered the distance in 1:35.06 on firm turf under Tyler Baze. The race was previously run as the Sir Beaufort Stakes and is now sponsored by the national furniture retailer. 

 

"The horse never gets the respect he deserves; he's a really talented horse," Baze said after the race. "A couple times when we ran second or third we had a bit of a rough trip, but today I was happy when the horse inside me (Red Outlaw) broke slow. I'm really going to ride him with confidence because he's a push-button horse who really gives it his all. He always gives 150%."

 

Eddie D. Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Home Run Kitten, unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) at Santa Anita last time out, finished a length clear of Awesome Return, who just edged 2-1 favorite Heart to Heart for third in the 10-horse field. 

 

A consistent performer who has won on turf, dirt, and all-weather surfaces, Alert Bay improved his record to 7-4-1 from 13 career starts.

 

He entered with three consecutive stakes wins on dirt for trainer Blaine Wright and British Columbia-based owner Peter Redekop: the Zia Park Derby in track record time Nov. 26 after respective wins in the British Columbia Derby and the Premier's Handicap (both Can-III), Sept. 14 and Oct. 13 at Hastings Racecourse. Earlier this year he won an optional claiming race on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.

 

Alert Bay, who toted 120 pounds, paid $20.40, $9.20, and $6.80. Home Run Kitten brought $5.60 and $4.60, and Awesome Return was worth $8.20 to show, both under 118 pounds.

 

Heart to Heart was followed by Talco, Red Outlaw, Long On Value, who was the 123-pound top weight, Patriots Rule, Sawyer's Hill, and Louisiana Flyboy. 

 

A fractious Cool Samurai refused to load and was a veterinarian's scratch at the gate. Ashleyluvssugar, Tonito M., and Play Hard to Get were also scratched. 

 

Talamo said Home Run Kitten had a perfect trip in Friday's race.

 

"I was able to save ground around the first turn and in the final turn, I had a lot of horse," he said. "I swung him out and he ran a winning race. When I got to him, he really dug in. He's got a tremendous turn of foot. I thought I had it, but that other horse (Alert Bay) just hung on at the end."

 

The $120,000 winner's share of the Mathis Brothers Mile increased Alert Bay's lifetime bankroll to $617,207.  

"Merry Christmas to us," said Wright, who is based at Golden Gate Fields.

 

Alert Bay was bred in California by Thomas Newton Bell and Ross John McLeod from Chilean champion miler Hickory, by Dushyantor.