Amazombie Blows Out for Potrero Grande

Amazombie blew out four furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track Thursday morning in 47.40 for Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs, although trainer Bill Spawr still left the door ajar for the Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 14.

“We’ll see how the track plays the next few days,” Spawr said Thursday morning after sending Amazombie through his work shortly after 5 a.m. as is Spawr’s custom. Asked if he entered Thunder of Zion in the Potrero Grande as a “rabbit,” Spawr said, “We have to think he might win. He might be the only speed in the race.” Like California-bred Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Amazombie, Thunder of Zion is owned by Spawr and Tom Sanford.

“I usually two-minute clip him two days out,” Spawr said when asked about the uncharacteristic half-mile drill for Amazombie, who worked six furlongs last Friday in 1:13.40. “But I wanted to get a little more serious, because it looks like I might run here, and I can always work him back if I’m going to Oaklawn on Monday.

“He went the last quarter today in 22 and three. It was beautiful.”

The field for the Potrero Grande, which goes as race eight: Sway Away, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; Amazombie, Mike Smith, 9-5; Mensa Heat, Garrett Gomez, 6-1; Smart Spending, Joel Rosario, 10-1; Roman Threat, Martin Garcia, 7-2; Camp Victory, Joe Talamo, 6-1; Courtside, Antonio Castanon, 10-1; Thunder of Zion, Alex Bisono, 15-1; and Thinking of Girls, Daniel Vergara, 20-1.