Papaprodromou is the Biggest Name in Racing
With 13 letters and five syllables, George Papaprodromou is the biggest name in racing.
Well, maybe not the biggest, but assuredly the longest. If he were in Major League baseball, his handle would rival Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s 14 letters for space on the back of his jersey.
The 38-year-old trainer hit the lottery once when he saddled a horse he claimed for $50,000—Imperative—to win the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 19, picking up a cool one million dollars for the victory.
Papaprodromou will try to catch lightning in a bottle again on Saturday when Imperative takes on unbeaten and odds-on favorite Shared Belief and six others entered in the Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles. The Awesome Again is one of five Breeders’ Cup Challenge races showcased Saturday, providing the winner with a fees-paid berth to their respective Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Imperative, a 4-year-old gelded son of Bernardini owned by K M Racing Enterprises, Inc., has only three career victories from 18 starts, but thanks to his humongous payday at Charles Town, has bankrolled $1,314,870. He rallied to finish third behind Shared Belief in the Pacific Class on Aug. 24, beaten five lengths.
“He’s coming up to the race great,” Papaprodromou said of the horse he haltered for
$50,000 last Dec. 21 at Hollywood Park. “Kent (Desormeaux, who has ridden the bay Kentucky-bred in his last six starts) worked him five furlongs Sunday in a minute flat. Hopefully he can run back to the Charles Town race. Like I said, he’s been training well and he’s better on dirt, so I think he’s going to run a good race.
“Certainly I respect Shared Belief. He’s a nice horse, the horse to beat. We’ll make one run and stay a little closer this time and see what happens.”
Desormeaux called Imperative’s work “explosive.”
P.S. At 14 characters, Saltalamacchia’s last name is the longest in Major League baseball history. That’s why he’s called “Salty,” and why Papaprodromou is called “Papa.”
The field for the Awesome Again, race eight of 11 with a first post time of 12:30: Fed Biz, Martin Garcia; Sky Kingdom, Victor Espinoza; Bird E House, Joe Talamo; Shared Belief, Mike Smith; Footbridge, Rafael Bejarano; Majestic Harbor, Tyler Baze; Mystery Train, Brice Blanc; and Imperative, Kent Desormeaux.
Sky Kingdom worked four furlongs in company with Chitu Wednesday for Bob Baffert in 46:80. Chitu was clocked in 47 flat.
Papaprodromou also has outsider Mr. Sexy entered in Santa Anita’s opening day feature, the Grade III Eddie D. Stakes on Friday.
The 4-year-old bay colt was fourth in the Green Flash at five furlongs on Del Mar’s Polytrack on Aug. 13, but won against a lesser field going five furlongs on turf July 23.
“He didn’t like the synthetic,” Papaprodromou said, “so now we’re going down the hill on grass, and he’s training great.”
Mr. Sexy is sired by Unbridled’s Song, the sire of last year’s Eddie D. winner, Unbridled’s Note, who is back to defend his title for trainer Steve Asmussen.
The field for the Eddie D.: Eddie’s First, Mario Gutierrez, 8-1; Pure Tactics, Victor Espinoza, 5-1; Lil Bit O Fun, Aaron Gryder, 9-2; Mr. Sexy, Elvis Trujillo, 20-1; Gallant Son, Tyler Baze, 6-1; Unbridled’s Note, Corey Nakatani, 3-1; Artest, Edwin Maldonado, 12-1; Ambitious Brew, Mike Smith, 4-1; Global Power, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Home Run Kitten, Joe Talamo, 12-1; Snowday, Alex Solis, 12-1; and also-eligible No Silent, 12-1.
Source: Santa Anita Park