Triple Bend Handicap 2011 at Hollywood Park - Smiling Tiger wins, Amazombie left behind
Four year old son of Hold That Tiger, Smiling Tiger, registered a big win in the $250,000 Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park on 2 July, as the victory increased his career bankroll to a massive $1million.
Coming out of a disappointing defeat in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes at Churchill Downs on 7 May 2011, where he finished 6th out of 12 horses, Smiling Tiger was expected to make up for the defeat at Hollywood Park.
The four-year old chestnut colt lived up to expectations and tackled the eight horses on the field with pure class and crafty footwork. The Bill Spawr trained, Amazombie, was considered the favourite to win the Triple Bend as he was expected to stop Smiling
Tiger from getting his 6th stakes win.
Smiling Tiger, who is a five-time graded stakes winner, had an unlucky outing in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes. He was sent off as the 5-to-2 favourite, but never found his footing in the race as he was steadied twice to take on the 12 horse field but
luck eluded him throughout the race.
On the other hand, Smiling Tiger’s rival, Amazombie lost his opportunity to land two consecutive wins when he was disqualified in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap, eventually finishing third in a field of 6.
The Northern Afleet gelding had a good month of April, when he landed the Grade 2 Portrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita on 4 April. Amazombie wasn’t rested after that because after a three week layoff he was up and running in the Tiznow Stakes at the Hollywood
Park on 23 April.
Amazombie has total earnings of $505,780, and managed to bank half of what Smiling Tiger earned after his 2 July victory. He has a lifetime record of eight wins out of nineteen starts.
Breaking from post 3, under Josel Rosario, Smiling Tiger jumped straight into the lead after overtaking M One Rifle, his pace maker. Amazombie challenged but could not do much about Rosario urging Smiling Tiger to do more.
Amazombie just could not find speed that day and kept falling behind. The 123 High Pound bay gelding tried to attack Smiling Tiger’s run from the outside when he rallied ferociously at the mid-stretch but he had another thing coming, jockey Joseph Talamo’s
Camp Victory gradually took over Amazombie.
Smiling Tiger two lengths free from the carnage behind him easily finished first by 2 ¼ lengths, Camp Victory second, and, Amazombie finishing third.
Amazombie’s attempt to make-up for his disqualification at Hollywood park was not to be, even after he was the favourite to win.
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