Amazombie preparing for the Breeders' Cup Sprint after securing the Bing Crosby Stakes
Amazombie became the best sprinter last year, winning the Eclipse Award by landing the six furlong long Bing Crosby Stakes, and ultimately the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, also run over the same distance.
This year, he succeeded in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar, and he is now aiming to take the same route as last year to land yet another Eclipse Award with the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on the radar of the six-year-old sprinter.
In 2011, between the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, he competed in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes at Santa Anita.
This year, trainer Bill Spawr, who co-owns the runner with Thomas C. Sanford, has mapped out a similar plan.
The Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes have been renamed the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, which will be hosted at Santa Anita on 6th October, 2012. A victory in this race will confirm the six-year-old’s entry into the Breeders’
Cup Sprint.
The son of Northern Afleet, foaled by mare, Wilshe Amaze adjusted well to the synthetic track at Del Mar, when he won the Bing Crosby Stakes and defeated, The Factor, while the third place was secured by Capital Account.
Both the place finishes were claimed by trainees of Bob Baffert.
The older division runner completed the race in an impressive 1 minute and 08.65 seconds, leaving the competition struggling behind him.
The California bred runner feels more comfortable on dirt, and the trainer decided to enhance his ability over the surface. Spawr told the press :
“He prefers dirt,” the trainer/co-owner said. “He ran well because he’s stronger, but he prefers dirt.”
Amazombie was on a lay-off after he finished second to Shackleford in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May, 2012.
The rest worked well in his favour and he is back on top. Chances are that the runner will be victorious at Santa Anita.
Not only is he talented and becoming stronger, he also has the familiarity working in his favour, since he claimed the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita and bolted through the seven furlong track. Now history is ready to repeat itself.
Currently, Amazombie has a record of 12-5-6 from 27 starts, and he looks ready to add victory number 13 to his record.
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