Dhaamer Responds in Round Table
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Photo:
Hollywood Park
Exiting a pair of graded races, Dhaamer responded to class relief
with an impressive victory in the $72,950 Round Table Stakes Sunday at
Betfair Hollywood Park.
The 11-10 favorite against eight opponents, the 5-year-old Irish
bred powered home in the final quarter of a mile to win by 4 ½ lengths
under jockey Joel Rosario.
Trained by Mike Mitchell for owner Edward J. Brown, Jr., the gelded
son of Dubai Destination and the Ahonoora mare Arjuzah completed the 1 ½
miles on turf in 2:27.65.
Second in the Grade III Tokyo City March
24 and fourth in the Grade II San Juan Capistrano April 22 in his first
two races in the United States, Dhaamer earned his fourth lifetime
victory. The chestnut, who has started 13 times, has earned $114,272.
Providing Rosario with his second win in the Round Table – he had
also won the most recent renewal before Sunday in 2009 with Obrigado –
Dhaamer paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.40.
Reserved off the pace set by Lumberyard Jack and longshot St. Joel,
Dhaamer began his surge on the outside around the final turn, then swept
to the front early in the stretch.
The lone female in the field, Quaintly, who saved ground throughout
under Victor Espinoza, found room to rally inside the tiring
pacesetters, but was no match for the winner. Runner-up in both of her
outings in this country for trainer Patrick Biancone, Quaintly paid
$5.80 and $3.20.
Porfido, who would have been the oldest stakes winner in the history
of Betfair Hollywood Park had he been successful in the Round Table,
gained third by a half-length over Dynamic Host, the 4-1 second choice.
The show price on the 10-year-old, who was three-quarters of a length
behind Quaintly, was $3.40.
“There were no instructions today,’’ said Mitchell. “When you have a
rider like Joel you don’t say much because you don’t know how these
things are going to go.
“He had plenty left in the tank. He came out of the San Juan
Capistrano well; he was bucking and playing and feeling good a day or
two after the race, so you just knew he wasn’t knocked out. He’ll
probably go next in the (Grade III, $150,000) Sunset (Handicap July 15).’’
Completing the order of finish were Lumberyard Jack, Bud I Crushed
It, Goldwaki and St. Joel. Falcon Rock was scratched in favor of a race
Thursday.
One race before the Round Table, jockey Patrick Valenzuela picked up his
first win since ending his retirement last month, prevailing by
three-quarters of a length aboard favored Langfuhrs Lightning.
The victory was the first for Valenzuela, 49, since he won with 14-1
shot Miss Mittagong last Nov. 12 at Betfair Hollywood Park. He was
0-for-24 at the Spring/Summer meet prior to Sunday’s win.
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