Dilemma returns to the winner’s circle in Daytona

Dilemma won for the first time in more than two years (Benoit Photo) Glen Hill Farm’s DILEMMA (Grand Slam) surged to the lead in deep stretch and drew clear to a 1 1/4-length win in Saturday’s $100,000 Daytona S. (G3) at Santa Anita, securing his first victory since November 2008. The seven-year-old horse had raced sparingly over the past two seasons, with only five starts since his last trip to the winner’s circle, but did have the benefit of a couple of recent attempts, finishing second in the October 11 Morvich H. (G3) two starts previously. The Tom Proctor trainee notched his first graded stakes win in the Daytona, completing the about 6 1/2-furlong firm turf affair in 1:12 1/5, and received a perfect ride from Garrett Gomez, who swept both graded events Saturday at Santa Anita. Dance with Gable (Dance Floor) showed the way from his rail post, establishing splits in :21 1/5 and :43 2/5. Regally Ready (More Than Ready), the 2-1 favorite, was up close chasing the pacesetter through the opening half-mile and advanced to the lead passing the quarter-pole. Dilemma was tracking the pace in fifth during the early stages and began to rally determinedly under left-handed urging after crossing over the main track on the downhill course.

“I really didn’t know what to expect from him,” Gomez explained. “I tried to
stay as close with him as much as he was willing, without taking away from his
run. He put himself in a decent spot, but he kind of worried me when we first
crossed the dirt. When I got him outside, he came home well and finished really
good. He’s seven, and hopefully coming into his prime now, but apparently he
hasn’t lost a step.”

The near 9-1 fifth choice among seven rivals, Dilemma paid $19.60, $7 and
$4.60. Quick Enough (High Brite) offered a strong run between horses for second,
a half-length better than Regally Ready in third, and gave back $4.40 and $3.40
as the 3-1 third choice. Regally Ready was good for $3.20. It was another
half-length back to Afleet Ruler (Northern Afleet) in fourth, and Quietly Mine
(Belong to Me), Sirocco Strike (Forestry) and Dance with Gable rounded out the
order of finish.

The $1 exotics returned $36.60 (exacta), $164 (trifecta) and $518.80 (7-6-5-2
superfecta).

Bred in Kentucky by Twin Hopes Farm, Dilemma is out of the unraced Tabasco
Cat mare Heavenly Cat, who is also the dam of Grade 3 queen Heavenly Ransom (Red
Ransom); multiple stakes victor and multiple Grade 2 runner-up Capitano (Belong
to Me); the two-year-old filly Zayanna (Bernardini); and a yearling filly by
Unbridled’s Song. Her second dam is multiple Grade 1 vixen and millionaire Sabin
(Lyphard). Dilemma sold for $650,000 to his current owners at the 2004 Keeneland
November weanling sale.

Dilemma captured the 2006 Sunny Slope S. and also placed in the Hollywood
Prevue (G3) as a two-year-old. He’s now earned $366,656 from a 22-6-5-3 line.