Mambo Meister romps in Spend a Buck

Mambo Meister may have earned a shot at BC glory (Jim Lisa Photos) Quantum Racing Team #1’s MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) ranged up outside of rivals passing the quarter pole and drew off under modest urging from jockey Manoel Cruz to completely dominate Saturday’s $100,000 Spend a Buck H. (G3) at Calder. The 5-2 second choice in a field of eight, the Phil Gleaves pupil came home 3 3/4 lengths to the good of even-money favorite Motovato (Proud Citizen) in a time of 1:46 4/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track. He paid $7.80, $3.40 and $2.60. “I’m ecstatic over the way he ran today,” Gleaves said. “He’s always been versatile and he just loves this track. Like many horses that run well on turf, I think he could do well on a synthetic surface. We’ll probably start talking about the Breeders’ Cup (Dirt Mile [G1]) over dinner tonight.” “When this horse runs on the turf, he does better coming from farther off the pace, but on the main track, I prefer him to be closer to the pace like he was today,” Cruz said. “I think position was a key in this race as we were better placed down the backstretch and around the last turn than the favorite. Either way, this horse is as honest and talented as they get. He always keeps you in the race and gives you a chance to win. He did it all himself today.”

Motovato’s chances were compromised after clipping heels at the start. Though
he was not rushed into contention thereafter, he remain further off the pace
than usual and simply could not match the winner’s turn of foot after advancing
through the field down the backside and around the far turn. He gave back $2.40
and $2.60 and capped the $15.60 exacta. Pechito (Arg) (Interprete), who set a
relaxed pace of :24 1/5, :49 1/5 and 1:14 3/5, was three lengths behind Motovato
at the end and paid $8.20 as the 33-1 longest shot. The trifecta returned
$209.20 and the 10-9-8-4 superfecta with Dream Maestro (Concerto) returned
$1,321.60.

Colonial Causeway (Giant’s Causeway), Temo’s Dream (Pure Precision), Hey Byrn
and Lady Shatzi (Per) (Privately Held) completed the order of finish. Cinnamon
Road (Delaware Township), Hal’s My Hope (Halo’s Image), Imawildandcrazyguy (Wild
Event) and Stately Character (Pleasant Tap) were withdrawn.

Mambo Meister had previously won four overnight stakes over the Calder strip,
the American Dreamer and Ride the Rails in 2008 and the Blazing Sword and Big
Bubble earlier this year. The gelding also ventured into graded territory this
season with his best efforts being seconds in the Fourstardave H. (G2) and Miami
Mile (G3). With this fifth stakes coup, the four-year-old has earned $298,179
from a line of 22-7-4-4.

Bred in Kentucky by J.R. Cavanaugh, Mambo Meister is a half-brother to the
multiple stakes-placed Captain Canaveral (Cape Canaveral). His dam,
Bleu’slittlesecret (Desert Secret [Ire]), is a half-sister to stakes winners
Bleu Victoriate (Victoriate), Nothingbutbluesky (Best of Both) and Bleu’s
Apparition (Silver Ghost). This is the family of 1977 Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) winner
Olwyn (Relko).