Santa Anita: Pilot Commander, Tirupati score graded wins
An in-race change in plans by jockey Juan Hernández entering the stretch helped propel Pilot Commander to his first stakes win Saturday against only four rivals in the Grade 3, $100,000 San Carlos for older horses going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.
Breaking from the rail, Pilot Commander (2-5) raced behind horses for the opening half-mile as Vlahos (7-1) and jockey Edwin Maldonado set fractions of 22.30 and 45.34 seconds. When the field reached the quarter pole, Pilot Commander remained blocked behind both Vlahos and Spirit of Makena, a two-time graded-stakes winner who was making his first start in 10 months. Then Vlahos drifted out slightly. Hernández and Pilot Commander had their racing room.
“I was on the rail just waiting,” Hernandez said. “My plan was, because my horse likes to run in the clear, to wait until the quarter pole and then go around horses. But I saw the horse in front of me was drifting out, and I saw my chance.”
Pilot Commander still had work to do in the stretch after the inside move. Spirit of Makena continued to battle on gamely under Kyle Frey. For All Mankind (7-1) also was making up ground to the outside. Pilot Commander responded by holding both at bay and grinding his way to a three-quarter-length victory. For All Mankind finished second by a half-length over Spirit of Makena. Fort Bragg (7-2) and Vlahos completing the order of finish.
Pilot Commander is trained by Bob Baffert for owner CSLR Racing Partners. He won with a time of 1:23.98 on the fast main track.
“When he drew the 1 hole, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Baffert said. “Since we have taken the blinkers off him, he has learned to relax. He needed that today. He was in a tight spot, and I thought, boy, he is really going to have to show his grit. But you can tell the last 100 yards he was not going to be denied. He had his ears pinned.”
A 4-year-old colt by Justify, Pilot Commander improved to 7: 4-2-0 with $240,600 in earnings. In two previous stakes tries, Pilot Commander was fourth in the Malibu (G1) in December and second before that in the San Vicente (G2) in January 2024. Both were at Santa Anita.
Pilot Commander paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. For All Mankind, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer John Sadler, returned $4.20 and $2.40. Spirit of Makena, trained by George Papaprodromou, paid $3.80.
Tirupati leads whole way in Wilshire
After a near-miss this month in the Buena Vista (G2) at Santa Anita, Tirupati led from gate to wire to earn her first stakes win in Saturday’s $100,000 Wilshire (G3) for older fillies and mares going a mile on turf.
With Umberto Rispoli aboard for the first time, Tirupati broke alertly from the inside post and set fractions of 23.24, 46.99 and 1:10.95 while being tracked by long shot Tahini (24-1) and second choice Alpha Bella (5-2).
In the homestretch Tirupati she remained comfortably on the lead as Tahini faded out of contention. Alpha Bella continued to chase with Juan Hernandez up, but she never could get to the leader. Tirupati won by one length over Alpha Bella with 47-1 long shot Big Hug another 1 1/4 lengths back to finish third in the field of seven.
Tirupati, who is trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner Augustin Stables. won with a time of 1:34.61. In the March 1 Buena Vista, also going a mile on turf, Tirupati finished just a head behind winner Liguria.
“She ran a hell of a race the other day when she got beat. She ran a hell of a race today,” Rispoli said. “The goal was to be on the speed. If nobody went, then Jonathan gave me the green light to do what I wanted as long as it didn’t turn into a sprint. I just made sure she was ready, and at the turn she did the rest.
A 4-year-old filly by Mitole, Tirupati was a $230,000 auction buy as a yearling. She made her first five starts on dirt before being switched to turf and dropped into a $35,000 maiden claimer at Laurel Park in September. She was a gate-to-wire winner that day and was claimed. She returned in a conditioned $25,000 claimer at Woodbine on synthetic last October, won again and was re-reclaimed by Thomas and Augustin Stable.
“She is a very very tough filly,” said Chelsie Raabe, an assistant to Thomas. “In her mind she is all racehorse, and all she wants to do is be a racehorse. We just let her do her job.”
Tirupati is 6: 3-1-1 on turf and sports a record of 13: 4-3-5 with $237,676 in earnings.
Tirupati paid $4.00, $2.40 and $2.10. Alpha Bella, trained by John Sadler, returned $3.20 and $2.60. Big Hug, with Armando Ayuso aboard for trainer Val Brinkerhoff, paid $6.00.