Amazombie will start his Breeders’ Cup Sprint’s title defence by defending the Santa Anita Sprint Championship
Co-owned and trained by Bill Spawr in partnership with Thomas C. Sanford, Amazombie won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar this July, a race that saw him finish third last season, but now at Santa Anita, the California bred will look to defend his title against six other top sprinters in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship that was formerly known as the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes on October 6, 2012.
Amazombie won the Ancient Title Stakes last year and went on to land the Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint which summed up his brilliant 2011 season, and he was crowned with 2011 Eclipse award for the champion sprinter.
Bill Spawr will be looking to achieve a similar feat this time around by taking the Santa Anita Sprint Championship en route to the Grade 1 XpressBet Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is an important race to win, and since it is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup race, it will ensure that entry fees are paid for the winner.
Trainer Bob Baffert will be going in to the race with two Grade 1 and 2 winners, Coil and Capital Account, respectively.
However, the one to look out will be the rampant, Reneesgotzip, who take everyone to the test by taking the field on with a gate to wire romp.
It is expected that, Coil, will take the filly early on, which will save the dirty work for Amazombie, or maybe the speedy Tim Yakteen trained, Castletown will either try to overhaul her or stay close enough to keep her honest throughout, on a track that has played to speed ever since the Autumn meet started.
"We'd prefer somebody else do the dirty work," he said. "It's not really his style to do that (press the pace). We tried it once against Shackleford, and it sure didn't work out (in the grade II Churchill Downs Stakes May 5)."
"I would think so," Spawr said when asked if he has an advantage. "He's run very well over this track here at Santa Anita being home, and I think it's a definite advantage."
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