ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Songforjohnmichael rallied in the stretch to win the $58,000 feature by 6 1/4lengths on Friday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Songforjohnmichael ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.16 and paid $6.20, $4.20 and $2.80.
Image of Joplin returned $17.60 and $7.80, while 2-1 favorite Valley Cat was another two lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show.
Songforjohnmichael gave Talamo his third win of the day. The 3-year-old gelding was fourth going into the far turn before beginning his rally.
“I chirped to him around the turn and he just jumped into the bridle,” Talamo said. “He’s got a lot of speed, but he settled great. We kind of idled to the quarter pole and then he just took off.”
The victory, worth $45,240, increased Songforjohnmichael’s career earnings to $88,430, with three wins in seven starts.
Trainer Dan Hendricks said Songforjohnmichael was gelded after his second start last November, and he nearly died a few weeks later from internal complications. He was off from Nov. 22 to June 19 before returning to the races.
“He’s quieter and more manageable,” Hendricks said. “This was a big race.”
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