Towards $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) on December 26, attention is mainly focused on Balnikhov and summer in a race for 3-year-olds.
When the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting inaugural race ended, those two horses had earned the deposit but, One more bid —the furthest shot in the six-man field—beat them with a rope and take home a 1:33.67 hardcourt victory.
With odds of opening 10-1 and closing 16-1, One More Bid only broke his first break last time — his eighth attempt. Maybe that feeling of victory is one of california chrome gelding cannot shake.
“He’s getting more professional now,” winning racer Ramon Vazquez told FanDuel TV. “He’s getting better with every race. …Now let me work on him.”
After passing Lesson 2 in field six, One More Bid rose from second on the rails as Sumter took the lead from the start through fractions of: 23.31, 46.50 and 1:10, 16.
While Sumter took the lead, One More Bid and Vazquez moved to two paths in the back. As the field turned home One More Bid took aim at driving while 8-5 favorite Balnikhov won the Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keenlandused his closing speed to close the gap while gathering three people wide.
With Sumter on the tracks and One More Bid to the right of the leader, Balnikhov turned it into a three-way battle to the finish line. Sumter dropped to third place in the closing moments, leaving a favorite and a long-term goal to solve the problem. Another bid was just enough to pass the challenge and yield the winning ticket of $35.
Following Balnikhov and Sumter were I am a gambler , Handy Dandy and Time to party . Agatino was scratched.
“I feel like I have a lot of horses in the back,” says Vazquez. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. This horse keeps getting better and better. This horse really gave his best. I didn’t look at the odds on the board. This horse has really worked well and do well. I never pay attention to the odds; I ride my horse.”
Owned by California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing and Ryan Hanson, One More Bid improves to 2-4-1 after nine starts in his first racing season. His earnings increased to $234,640. Hanson is also the coach of One More Bid. The win was the second graded bet win for Hanson, who had previously deposited Weston to win the Best Pal Stakes (G2) 2020.
One More Bid was purchased by Matt Dohman (Amanda Murphy, dealer) of California Racing Partners for $55,000 from Pike Racing’s shipment at the 2-year-old Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita 2021 during the Coaching Sales program.
“I’m on the moon right now, I mean the horse is very well trained but I think it can win,” Dohman said. “I was a bit confused when he went that far, but he ran really well.”
Another auction is the mare Scat Daddy Never Grow Old, the mare also has a coat (modernize the queen) who was located in Japan. The pair combined to earn $257,029. The California Chrome stands this year at the Arrow Stud for $35,000.
Videotapes: Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. (G2T)
