Amazombie return to Churchill Downs for a crack at the Churchill Downs Stakes
The 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion 6-year-old gelding, Amazombie’s connections are looking at heavier purses rather than good competition for the special sprinter, who is exiting a spectacular win in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita Park going six and a half furlongs on 7 April, 2012.
Co-owned and trained by William Spawr, Amazombie was originally pointed toward the $125,000 Tiznow Stakes on 28 April, 2012, but it seems they are leaning towards a bigger prize for the sprinter, as they are snubbing the Tiznow Stakes possibility and going all out for the Grade 2, $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes.
The Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes is the undercard for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, set to go underway on 5 May, 2012, at Churchill Downs.
“I talked to Tom Cruise,” joked Spawr, who owns the 6-year-old California-bred with partner Tom Sanford, “and he said, ‘Show me the money!’ Seriously, Amazombie is doing great, he likes Churchill (where he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last Nov. 5) and the money was a major factor.”
Owned in partnership with Thomas C. Sanford, Amazombie is the gelded son of Northern Afleet, out of mare Wilshe Amaze by In Excess.
The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner came in this year with a big reputation, but he couldn’t bring his winning momentum to the first race he participated in, as he fell away in the seven furlong long Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita Park and finished third to the Bob Baffert trained, The Factor on 25 February, 2012.
He was slightly cut back in distance to six and a half furlongs in his second start of the new season in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes on 7 April, 2012, also at Santa Anita Park, where he posted a massive victory over the second place finisher, Roman Threat with the winning time of 1 minute and 14.16 seconds, as Camp Victory finished third that day.
Amazombie defended his title in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes, as he won the race last year on 3 April, 2011, at Santa Anita.
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