Comma to the Top battles tough conditions to take Off-Turf Daytona at Santa Anita Park
The off-turf Grade 3,$100,000 Daytona Stakes was shifted to the dirt track at Santa Anita Park on 29 December, 2012, rainfall pelted Southern California, but it didn’t stop Comma to the Top from winning the 6 ½ furlong test, which was reduced from a 12 horse
field to five.
Peter Miller trained 4-year-old gelding slugged his was to a convincing victory, when he held off Clubhouse Ride by 1 ¾ lengths, and after getting the lion’s share of the $100,000 purse, the son of Bwana Charlie became racing’s newest millionaire.
After turning from home, Ain’t No Other breathed down Comma to the Top’s neck constantly, but that didn’t faze Gary Barber’s gelding, who refused to exchange leads, and as a result the winner prevailed to down the distance in 1 minute and 14.55 seconds.
It was not rider Corey Nakatani, who guided Comma to the Top to victory, but it was a new partner in jockey Edwin Maldonado, who answered Peter Miller’s call after Corey Nakatani gave up his mounts after falling down in the fourth race. Though, the jockey
wasn’t seriously injured.
It was Maldonado’s third win on the card, as he went on to say: "Peter told me since the speed was scratched to go ahead and send him to the lead," he said. "He told me he usually doesn't switch leads, but not to worry about it."
Right from the outset, it was Ain’t No Other who was not in the mood to let Comma to the Top off easy, as he pushed the leader through the opening quarter mile in 21.78 seconds, and by the two led the rest of the lost by 4 ½ lengths. The duo went half-mile
in 44.16 seconds, and even then they were separated from others by 4 lengths.
After turning for home, it was still a two way battle, until Ain’t No Other switched paths, which gave the 14 to 1 shot Clubhouse Ride to rally late and finish second.
"I felt I had a ton of horse under me at the end," Maldonado said. "The horse drifted out late, but the middle of the track was the hardest part of the track."
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