Gary Broad’s MR GRUFF (Mr. Greeley) went right to the lead and never
surrendered in Saturday’s $100,000
San
Simeon H. (G3) at Santa Anita, winning his stakes debut by three-quarters of
a length. Making his sixth career start in the about 6 1/2-furlong turf affair,
the Ron Ellis-trained gelding reeled off rapid splits in :22, :43 3/5 and 1:05
4/5 en route to stopping the teletimer over the firm turf in 1:11 4/5. The
five-year-old was guided by Joel Rosario and paid $7.60, $5 and $3.60 as
the near 3-1 third choice.
Doppio (Gentlemen [Arg]), the longest shot among eight runners at 21-1,
rallied from the back of the pack for runner-up honors while never threatening
the winner and returned $17.60 and $7. It was a half-length back to the 10-1
Euroglide (Honor Glide), who paid $5.40 after stalking the leaders throughout.
Tiz West (Gone West) came next under the wire and was followed by El Merito
(Chi) (Dushyantor), Prussian (Danzig), Jungle Prince (Sir Cat) and 5-2 favorite
Desert Code (E Dubai), who chased the winner early but began to retreat upon
reaching the stretch. Headache (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) was scratched. The $1
exotics totaled $67.20 (exacta), $372.30 (trifecta) and $2,233.30 (8-3-1-4
superfecta).
Bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel, Mr Gruff initially passed through the
sales ring in 2005, selling for $110,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling
Sale, and was bought by his current connections for $200,000 at the Barretts March
Two-Year-Old Sale the following spring. After making his career debut in
February 2008, he recorded his first victory two starts later in early January,
winning a maiden special weight event down the hill, and the dark bay entered
Saturday’s race off a 2 3/4-length entry level allowance score over the course.
He’s now earned $137,880 from a 6-3-2-0 career line. Mr Gruff is the first foal
out of the Grade 3-winning Ruff (Clever Trick) and has an unraced three-year-old
half-brother named Exile and a yearling half-sister, both by Speightstown.
“The reason I jumped him from an other-than (allowance win) into this race
was to see if he was good enough to handle stakes horses, and obviously he is,”
Ellis said. “I think being a hill specialist can be a big advantage for that
Breeders’ Cup race (Turf Sprint). We got some graded earnings for this, and I’ll
probably keep him lightly raced, pointing for that race (at Oak Tree on November
7).