Michael House’s BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) made little
impression in his first race on American soil last November, but rebounded with
a solid victory in Sunday’s $100,000
Baldwin
S. (G3) at Santa Anita. Steadily advancing from fifth over the downhill turf
course, Battle of Hastings bid four-wide into the stretch and held off an inside
bid from 7-5 favorite Flashmans Papers (GB) (Exceed and Excel) to garner the
victory by 1 1/4 lengths. The 7-1 fourth choice, Battle of Hastings returned
$17.60, $6.80 and $5.60 while finishing up about 6 1/2 furlongs on the firm
ground in 1:11 4/5.
Luckiest Man (Grand Slam) made the lead from the outside and set the internal
fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 1/5. That one eventually tired through the lane as
Flashmans Papers proved to be the only major threat to Battle of Hastings’
oncoming rush. Flashmans Papers was a clear second by two lengths and returned
$3 and $2.60 while completing the $26.50 exacta ($1). Luckiest Man was 1 1/2
lengths clear in third at 11-1 and paid $4.80 while capping the $182.40 trifecta
($1). Dream Now (Medaglia d’Oro), the 4-1 third choice, finished the 5-7-8-6 superfecta, good for
$626.20 ($1). Beauteous Maximus (Western Fame), Brother Keith (Johar) and Preemo
(Vindication) followed while Dream of Kaylee (Cactus Ridge) was scratched.
Unplaced in his first three starts, Battle of Hastings reached the winner’s
circle for the first time when stretching out to seven furlongs in a Newmarket
handicap last August, then won over a mile in a handicap at Doncaster. Purchased
by his current connections for $156,258 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in
Training Sale last October, Battle of Hastings made his American debut in the
Generous S. (G3) on November 29, but showed little in finishing seventh in the
eight-horse field.
“Last time out it was his first race in this country, and he was just lost,”
winning jockey Tyler Baze said. He didn’t know what he was doing at all. He’s
been a handful for (trainer) Jeff (Mullins), but I thought he’d run good today
because in his last two works, it’s like the light bulb went on.”
The three-year-old gelding now sports a record of 7-3-0-0, $93,875.
Battle of Hastings was produced from the multiple stakes-winning Subya (Night
Shift), who is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Villa Carlotta (Rainbow
Quest). This female family produced 1968 champion two-year-old colt Top Knight
(Vertex) as well as multiple Irish champion and classic winner Law Society
(Alleged).