Amazombie will look to defend his title in the Potrero Grande
The 6-year-old William Spawr trained and co-owned gelding, Amazombie, proved last year that he is the leading sprinter of the nation by winning the Eclipse Award for it, and by the end of last year he had won 5 races out of 9 starts, with 4 placed finishes,
but the sprinter left the best for the last as he won his penultimate start of the last season in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes and the big one Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The California bred sprinter, Amazombie, started this season off with a third place finish in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes over his favourite dirt track at Santa Anita Park, where he was slightly stretched out in distance from six to seven furlongs.
The Bob Baffert trained, The Factor took the race on 25 February, 2012, defeated Sway Away in second, as he covered the distance in 1 minute and 20.56 seconds.
The son of Northern Afleet, out of mare Wilshe Amaze by In Excess, Amazombie is now pointed toward the Grade 2, $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes at about six and a half furlongs on 7 April, 2012, at Santa Anita Park’s dirt course.
He will face eight rivals there, and he will likely head the race. The Champ last year won the 6 ½ furlong event by defeating the likes of Captain Cherokee by a mere head and covered the distance in 1 minute and 14.26 seconds.
Amazombie has drawn post number 2 for the Potrero Grande, and he will be the top weight of 123 pounds for the race, under jockey Mike Smith.
The second placed, Sway Away, in the San Carlos Stakes has drawn the rail in the Potrero Grande. The Jeff Bonde trained sprinter came back to the races after a 8 months layoff, and considering he finished on top of Amazombie in second, the Afleet Alex colt
is expected to do well in the Potrero Grande.
Mensa Heat is also going for a run in the Potrero Grande, he drew post number 3, while Camp Victory, who hasn’t raced since his seventh place finish in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will make his 2012 debut from post number 6 under Joe Talamo.
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