Atlando lands Obispo
Gary Tanaka’s ATLANDO (Ire) (Hernando [Fr]), sent off as the 2-5 favorite as
part of a three-way entry
with King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre [Ire]) and Aubonne (Ger) (Monsun), roared home
the winner by three parts of a length in the
San Luis Obispo H. (G2) at Santa Anita on
Sunday. Traveling in sixth under jockey Martin Pedroza, the bay
gelding rated off the pace set by Modern Era (Aus) (Marscay), who carved out splits of :46
3/5, 1:10
4/5 and 1:35 1/5 over the turf course. The Darrell Vienna
trainee then moved into the fourth spot three wide as Modern Era completed 1 1/4
miles in 1:59 3/5. Atlando gained the lead nearing midstretch as the former
leader faded, and he held on for the victory under urging,
completing 1 1/2 miles over the firm grass in 2:23 4/5.
T. H. Approval (With Approval), who had been running one position ahead of Atlando for
most of the trip, settled for second. Atlando’s entry-mate,
King’s Drama, had been tracking in second at every point of call, but after
briefly getting the lead at the top of the lane, was not
able to keep up with the surging winner and runner-up, eventually winding up in the bronze position.
“There were different instructions the whole week because this horse had
never been a mile and a half,” Pedroza said. “Everything changed when I got to
the paddock. Instead of riding closer than normal to the pace, I was told to
just ride him my way, and I did. He’s got a helluva kick. I was saving as much
as I could and I really didn’t think the distance was going to be a problem.”
Atlando and King’s Drama gave back $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10, leading $1 exotics
of $2.40 (exacta) and a $12.50 trifecta which included 24-1 Bullistic (Holy
Bull). Clipperdown (Ire) (Green Desert) completed the $35.70 superfecta
(1-6-2-8) while Bouthan (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells), Modern Era and Aubonne rounded
out the order of finish. Fantastic Spain (Fantastic Fellow) and Balustrade
(Green Dancer) were scratched from the race.
“It was a beautiful ride,” Vienna said. “I thought we might be closer, but I
told Martin (Pedroza) — forget what I’ve been telling everybody in the press —
wherever he sits, he’s got to relax to get a mile and a half, and he got him
perfectly relaxed. He saved ground and then came around horses with a fresh
horse.”
Bred in Ireland by Skymarc Farm, the gelding is out of the Nureyev mare
Atlantic Blue, who is herself a daughter of 1990 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner
Hail Atlantis (Seattle Slew). Atlando’s dam is thus a half-sister to multiple
stakes winner and sire Stormy Atlantic. This is the immediate family of Blue
Grass S. (G1) hero Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus).
A stakes winner in France, where he was also Group 3-placed, Atlando was
posting his second victory in
four U.S. starts. After capturing the Knickerbocker H. (G3) in his first North American
start last October, he came home second
to multiple Grade 2 winner Badge of Silver (Silver Deputy) in the San Gabriel H.
(G2), then just missed the board when fourth in the San Marcos S. (G2) to Grade 1 winner
The Tin Man (Affirmed) last out. This victory improves Atlando’s line to
16-6-2-1 with $332,765 in earnings.