Amazombie dependant on weather and track conditions for a start in the Palos Verdes Stakes
The top American sprint of the year 2011, Amazombie, has been reluctantly added among the entries of the Grade 2, $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on 21 January, 2012. Reluctantly, because trainer William Spawr made it clear that his top sprinter will not participate in the race if the weather and track conditions are not up to the mark.
Though William Spawr did express some reservations about Amazombie running in the Palos Verdes Stakes, but now he is being extra careful where his 6-year-old gelding runs.
“If (it rains and) they seal the track too tight, he won’t run,” Spawr told Daily Racing Form. “You don’t pass anyone on this track, but it’s gotten better in the last week.
“If I get beat, I want to get beat by a better horse and not the surface or a bias.”
The California bred son of Northern Afleet, out of mare Wilshe Amaze by In Excess, Amazombie hasn’t run since 5 November, 2011, where at Churchill Downs he raced and won the Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint in his most recent start.
The Palos Verdes Stakes will be contested over 6 furlongs over the venue’s dirt track, and the champ will, if he runs, go against seven other entries which were drawn on 18 January, 2012.
Defending his title will be the 8-year-old son of Langfuhr, Euroears, who is trained by Bob Baffert, swept the Palos Verdes Stakes field last year and won the six furlong dash by 2 ¼ lengths.
The massive chestnut participated in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and finished ninth, when he went for the lead in the early part of the races, but weakened in the stretch.
Out of mare Unky and Ally by Heff, Euroears will be ridden by Martin Garcia, as the pair will break from the far outside post.
Amazombie had a great 2011, as he topped it off with a great rally starting from the mid-pack, when he powered down the stretch to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
His other victories of the season included a win in the Grade 1 Ancient Title, Sunshine Millions Sprint and the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes.
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