Watsonville shook off two recent unsuccessful attempts in graded stakes and proved that graded company is where he belongs with a gutsy win in the one-mile, $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.
The 3-year-old son of Jack Milton stalked the pace Tuesday as he did in the Twilight Derby (G2T) and most recently in the Hollywood Derby (G1T). This time, however, when he took command of the race at the top of the stretch, the big-striding chestnut colt showed no quit.
Rolling out of the final turn in front with Antonio Fresu aboard, Watsonville was immediately challenged by 4-5 favorite Almendares on his outside. Almendares, a son of Havana Grey trained by Phil D’Amato, got a head in front in mid-stretch but Watsonville dug in and battled hard to the wire, where he prevailed by a nose in 1:34.55.
“I wanted to keep him up close today and give him a target,” Fresu said. “When he hit the front, he pricked his ears and he was off. The favorite actually passed us, but my horse dug in. He continues to get better and better. I won twice with him, and he was always green.”
Fresu added that the Hollywood Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles like the Twilight Derby, was too far for Watsonville.
“I just thought if we were in a better position today, he would respond,” he said.
The Mathis Mile was the second win on the day for trainer Mark Glatt and Saints or Sinners Horse Racing, who teamed to take a 6 1/2-furlong turf allowance race earlier on the card with Beef Winslow . Ana and Hans Maron’s Saints or Sinners race Beef Winslow on their own but co-own Watsonville with Pine Racing Stables.
“It is emotional. Watsonville went through a lot when he was younger; he had a lot of surgeries. We were not sure he’d make it. So to see him come this far is absolutely exhilarating,” said Ana Maron after the win.
Dandy Man Shines , who is owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Jeff Mullins, finished third by three-quarters of a length.
Kings and Queens bred Watsonville in Kentucky out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Grand Slam Kitten, who is a full sister to grade 3 winner Kitten Kaboodle and a half sister to stakes-placed winner Slam Dunk (Into Mischief ). Watsonville is a full brother to Chilean group 3-placed winner New Love . The mare’s last reported foal is a 2-year-old Midshipman colt named Silvercreekwhiskey who has not started.
The Marons bought Watsonville for $240,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from RSVP Sales. He made his racing debut in May at Santa Anita and got his first win in his third start going a mile on the turf at Del Mar. Watsonville’s career earnings are now $253,360.
Watsonville is the first graded stakes winner this season for Jack Milton, a son of War Front who will stand the 2024 season for a private fee at Grays Farms near Cottonwood, Calif..
