Fanticola Scores On Hillside Course

Canadian-bred Fanticola tried Santa Anita’s 6 ½ furlong hillside turf course for the first time Thursday, taking the featured $51,000 Crusher Allowance Purse under Joe Talamo by a half length in 1:13 flat, providing trainer Mike Mitchell with his second win on the day.

An impressive gate to wire maiden special weight winner going a mile on turf at Del Mar, Fanticola rallied from off the pace at odds of 9-1 to post her second win in a row—both with Talamo aloft.

“She’s a fast filly,” said Talamo.  “There was a lot of speed in there today, but you can put her wherever you want her.  She tracked a couple of horses on the lead and when we crossed the dirt turning for home, she was great through there.  It’s a lot of fun riding for these connections.”

With longshot J K’s Mischief setting the pace from the outside post in the 10-horse Crusher, Fanticola sat third, five lengths off the lead as the field approached the quarter pole through splits of 21.62, 43.59 and 1:07.12.

Owned by Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino, Fanticola, a 3-year-old Ontario Canadian-bred filly by the Sunday Silence stallion Silent Name, paid $20.60, $12.20 and $8.60.

With the winner’s share of $30,600, Fanticola hiked her earnings to $113,600, while improving her record to 5-2-2-1.

Next to last after the first half mile, 4-1 second choice Moulin de Mougin, with Mike Smith aboard, came charging but ran out of real estate to finish second, one length in front of 12-1 shot Zanbo and David Flores.

Moulin de Mougin paid $5.60 and $4.20.

Zanbo, who was mid-pack after a half mile, finished well to be third, 1 ¼ lengths in front of longshot Lilbourne Eliza, and paid $5.00 to show.

Tribal Spy, the 7-2 favorite with Irving Orozco, was forwardly placed early but faded through the drive to finish seventh.

There is a Pick Six carryover into Friday at Santa Anita of $46,733.  The Pick Six will cover races three through eight.