Returning Tamara just misses to undefeated Sandy Bottom

Sandy Bottom set a strong pace, then held on – barely – to upset comebacking stakes star Tamara in the headline event at Del Mar Friday.

At the end of six furlongs in 1:10.06, jockey Umberto Rispoli held Sandy Bottom together for a nose triumph over the 2-5 favorite in the $79,800 allowance test for fillies and mares aged 3 and up. Sandy Bottom is trained by Michael McCarthy for owners James and Donna Daniell.

Tamara, who is owned by her breeder Spendthrift Farm, was making her first start since Nov. 3, 2023. Jockey Mike Smith navigated through some tight quarters to put the daughter of Bolt d’Oro in position to pull off a victory, something they just missed. Running third, 3 1/4 lengths farther back, was Hronis Racing’s Anywho.

The winner was making a comeback of her own, having last raced on Oct. 21, 2023. She now has won all three of her lifetime starts, including the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita last year. She earned a first prize of $36,600 and pushed her earnings total to $140,622. She paid $10.20 to her backers.

Tamara, who is out of the Hall of Fame runner and racemare Beholder, is trained by hall of famer Richard Mandella. He trained her mother, too, over five seasons during which she won Grade 1 races at ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Beholder won of three Breeders’ Cup races and four Eclipse Awards.