Horses To Watch

Horses to Watch: Sumter Needs More Ground

Sumter: Benoit Photo

Del Mar – December 6, 2022

By Turfdom

TIME TO PARTY (November 27) Three year old gelding for George Papaprodromou was in for a starter allowance race on the 27th, a non winners of three lifetime at a mile on the turf. Off at 2/1 in a field of 11, he was content to lag early and was well back of the leaders down the back side by about 10 lengths. He made a move at the half mile pole which was eye catching, as he went by 8 horses in just two furlongs and sustained that rally well into the stretch. Not many horses can have a rally that long and he went on to win by ¾ at the wire. The time was solid in 1:34.68 and he still has the first allowance condition available. Up the ladder for this son of Katharos.

  • WUDI (December 2) Two year old filly for Bob Baffert made her debut in Friday’s opener, a maiden special weight event at six and a half on the main. Off at 9/5 in a field of six, she made the running from the get go with splits of 22.47 and 45.40 for the half. However, she was pressed every step of the way by the even money favorite and never really got a breather. She put the favorite away at the 1/8 pole but couldn’t hold off another late runner on the outside. She won the battle but lost the war by a length at the wire. They won’t beat this daughter of Uncle Mo next time and she’s a slam dunk “single”.  
  • BAJAN BASHERT (December 2) Two year old filly for Steve Miyadi made her debut on Friday in a Cal bred maiden special weight event at ¾ on the main. Off at 15/1 in a field of 10, she broke a bit slow under J.J. and was a good 9 lengths back down the back side. She started to pick up some steam at the 3/8 pole, stayed on the fence turning for home, found a seam at the top of the lane and battled down the stretch, only to come up a nose short. It was five back to the third horse. This daughter of Speightster is a soon winner for a very underrated barn.
  • SUMTER (December 3) Three year old colt for Richard Mandella tried the Stormy Liberal stakes on Saturday at 5/8 on the turf for 3 and up. Off at 4/1 in an 8 horse field, he didn’t show much speed under Prat and was actually last at the half mile pole. Coming out of the 10 hole, he was wide as well and at least four wide turning into the stretch. He rallied on the outside, but was no match for the winner and was beaten three at the wire and was nosed out of second. He is best at a mile and will get plenty of those opportunities on the lawn up at Arcadia. He’s graded stakes placed and Prat fits him well. Tab and follow.
  • GAME TIME (December 4) Two year old colt for John Sadler tried the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille stakes on Sunday at a mile on the grass. Off at 9/1 in a field of 8 and coming off a maiden win, he made the running right from the start under Rispoli and battled through a quick opening quarter in 22.80. They battled head and head down the back side, but the favorite pulled clear at the 1/8 pole, but “Game” was game, and battled back down on the inside and lost by just a half at the wire. He needs turf for his best and he still has the first allowance condition available, which they will be writing more of those races now for juveniles, as they soon turn three. He’s a soon winner up at Arcadia and looks like stakes material in 2023.