Schramsberg scores in Connally Turf

The well-bred Schramsberg earned his first graded win in the Connally Turf (Coady Photography) Bobby Joe Hammer’s SCHRAMSBERG (Storm Cat) rallied three wide down the stretch and drew off to post a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday night’s $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup H. (G3) at Sam Houston. With jockey Chris Landeros taking the reins, the Chris Hartman trainee was sent off the 5-2 third choice to return $7.60, $3.80 and $2.60 for finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 1/5. And Music Came (Stroll) dueled for the early lead through splits of :25 1/5 and :49 1/5 while Landeros settled Schramsberg into a ground-saving spot on the inside. As the leader faded, Schramsberg increased his pace heading into the turn before angling out three wide for the stretch run. The chestnut pulled away to earn his first graded score in the firm turf test. “I have to give all the credit to the horse,” Landeros said. “He is an amazing animal. We looked at the form and knew there wasn’t much pace in here. Our thought was if we were going to take it, let’s take it nice and comfortable. Luckily, there were a couple horses that wanted to go up front and press the pace; I got a ground-saving trip and just waited for that move and he spurted when I asked him.”

Southern Anthem (Royal Anthem), runner-up in the Sycamore S. (G3) at
Keeneland in October, followed Schramsberg home. Grade 1 winner Stately Victor
(Ghostzapper) was making his seasonal bow, and first turf start since last
summer, in this spot off a nose second in the Prairie Bayou S. and rallied well
to be third as the 3-2 favorite.

“He was moving well and handled the turf course fine,” jockey Alan Garcia
said of Stately Victor. “By the time he got in gear, it was too late.”

It was another head back to And Music Came, who was followed by Deputiformer
(Silver Deputy), Fifteen Love (Point Given), Spinning Touch (Touchdown  Ky)
and Barrier Reef (Mizzen Mast). Stachys (Candy Ride [Arg]) was scratched.

Schramsberg was looking for his first win since adding a first black-type to
his resume in October’s Remington Green S. on the turf. He was unable to make an
impact in the River City H. (G3) next out, then attempted to wire the Zia Park
Distance Championship H. on the main track, eventually finishing second. The
chestnut made his five-year-old bow in the Winsham Lad S. but could do no better
than fifth in that dirt test.

“This was a good spot to run the horse,” Hartman said. “It’s a Grade 3 and
the horse is extremely well bred.”

In an attempt to get his charge back on the winning track, Hartman decided to
try a jockey switch to Landeros from Ramsey Zimmerman, who had piloted
Schramsberg in his past five races. The change went smoothly, according to
Hartman.

“He’s ridden for me in the past,” he remarked. “I thought he’d fit the horse
well. I told him that the horse needed to be covered up and that’s what I asked
Chris to do. He put a beautiful ride on the horse.”

Hartman indicated that Schramsberg might return to Sam Houston for the
$150,000 Maxxam Gold Cup on March 5.

Bred in Kentucky by the Bob and Beverly Lewis Trust, Schramsberg RNAed for
$1.4 million as a Keeneland September yearling in 2007. He is out of champion
Serena’s Song (Storm Cat), who captured 11 Grade 1s during her career and beat
the boys on more than one occasion. The mare has also produced Group 1 scorer
Sophisticat (Storm Cat), Grade 2 victors Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington
(Unbridled), multiple stakes winner Serena’s Time (Mr. Prospector) and an
unnamed yearling filly by Street Cry (Ire).

Serena’s Song is out of Imagining (Northfields), making her a half-sister to
Grade 3 heroine Vivid Imagination (Raise a Man). Others of note in this family
include Grade 2 star Doubles Partner (Rock Hard Ten) and Grade 3 winner Wander
Mom (Maria’s Mon).