The return of Santa Anita ParkThe iconic grassy downhill course generated a lot of anticipation ahead of the $ 200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) on October 1st. The sprint down the hill was suspended in April 2019 following a peak in horse deaths in Santa Anita.

“Our fans, our riders and Eddie Delahousaye himself have told us they would love to see a return to racing on the European-style course which has been unique to Santa Anita for over six decades,” said Aidan, manager of the operation of the Stronach group. Butler told the LA Times on September 8.

Lieutenant Dan , the only Californian breeding of the Eddie D, proved himself among the best turf sprinters in the world in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) after his decisive score against a salty field of ranked winners .

Sent to the 2-1 favorite, Lt. Dan exploded from the barrier and quickly joined in the mad race for the lead. The 5-year-old gelding ran down the hill three times abreast with Citizen of Abidin spent a first quarter in: 21.61 with the mare Mia de Charmaine cling to a narrow advantage inside. After picking up the tempo for half a mile: 42.95, Lt. Dan took command as the field swept across the dirt, turning towards the house. He opened two lengths on a tiring Mia de Charmaine and headed for the wire as the Kentucky shipper Sinclair Snapper , who had a horse beaten up the hall, launched a powerful rally at the back of the pack. Jockey Geovanni Franco kept Lieutenant Dan on task and son of Grazen held the last Snapper Sinclair safe by half a length to the finish. Long Shot 36-1 Chaos theory was only a neck away from Snapper Sinclair in third, with Gregorian chant another half length in fourth.

Lieutenant Dan stopped the clock at 1.11.74 on a lightning fast grass course. He paid $ 7.00 for the win.

Lt. Dan’s connections in the winner’s circle after his Eddie D Stakes win at Santa Anita Park

“He’s a pretty fast horse and he’s very versatile,” said Franco. “Overall he was the one who guided me through the trip. At the end of the race he continued. I heard noises of people coming but he never slowed down or waited anybody.

“It was a great feeling to go back up the hill; it’s definitely different from any other race or surface. You have a lot of fun there, especially when you have a horse like this.

The gelding, whose success as a racehorse was “unexpected” according to owner / breeder Nick Alexander, won bets three times against state breeds before trainer Nick Miyadi rolled the dice and failed. enters the bay against an open business in a July 23 Del. Optional claimant march allowance. Lt. Dan took the win that day and subsequently added the ranked winner to his resume with a total of 2 1/4 length in the Green Flash Handicap (G3T).

“I think he was the seventh or eighth foal of the mare (Excusabull), and the first six didn’t do anything, we had very low expectations for this horse and he continues to succeed them,” Alexander said afterwards. Eddie D. “He just likes to win.”

While the American Pharoah (G1) and Chandelier (G2) stakes on the October 1 card are “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup, the Eddie D is not, which means that Alexander would have to complete lieutenant Dan in the Breeders’ Cup to compete. Alexander wasn’t fazed by the extra $ 100,000 after his runner’s performance and indicated that a Turf Sprint (G1T) start would be on the books for the California sprint star.

“He just won the amount of (supplement),” Alexander said. “It’s $ 100,000. If he comes out of this race in one piece, that’s our next goal.”

Video: Eddie D S. (G2T)