Longshot Boozer Scores at Santa Anita

Idle since June 16 and dismissed at odds of 20-1, Boozer had Pick Six players feeling a bit tipsy Friday at Santa Anita, as he spurted to an easy 2 ¾ length win in the $60,000 Orbit Purse allowance, covering 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.09 under Edwin Maldonado—thereby helping to key a two-day Pick Six carryover of $226,505 into Saturday.  It is expected Saturday’s total Pick Six pool should approach $1.5 million.

Breaking sharply from post position three in a field of seven older horses, Boozer, trained by Mark Glatt, sat a comfortable second to pacesetting stablemate Follini and blew by him inside the eighth pole to win in-hand.

Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Boozer paid $42.20, $15.20 and $5.60.  A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Unusual Heat, Boozer, a maiden winner down the hill on March 3, 2013, was eligible for a first condition allowance, but skipped that condition and was offered for an optional claiming tag of $62,500.

“He was entered a couple weeks ago on the grass, but it rained and we scratched because they moved it to the main track,” said Glatt.  “He’s been training fantastic so I thought he could take the jump in class here…He ran very well and I think he’ll run further too.”

With the owner’s share of $36,000, he bumped his earnings to $84,240 while getting his second win from five starts.

Royal F J and A Toast to You both rallied strongly from off the pace to collar Follini late, finishing second and third, respectively.

Royal F J, off at 9-1 under Martin Garcia, finished a nose in front of A Toast to You and paid $7.40 and $3.60.

A Toast to You, the 7-5 favorite with Mario Gutierrez, finished a head in front of Follini and paid $2.60 to show.

Follini, off as the second choice at 2-1 with Joe Talamo up, set fractions of 21.73, 43.88 and 1:06.30.  He finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Klisz, who ran fifth with apprentice Drayden Van Dyke.