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Amazombie picks ups the pieces in Sprint

Amazombie (left) caught Force Freeze late to seal a likely sprint championship (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) The expected sizzling pace in Saturday's $1,363,500 Breeders' Cup Sprint materialized and was just what the Northern Afleet gelding Amazombie needed in his first trip outside California. Content to settle in mid-pack as Euroears, Giant Ryan, Force Freeze and defending champion Big Drama battled up front, Amazombie waited until the quarter pole to advance under the patient handling of Mike Smith. Full of run as nearly all of the early pace players began to wilt away, Amazombie charged down the stretch, edged slightly ahead of Force Freeze inside the sixteenth pole, and held steady over that determined rival to post a neck victory in the six-furlong dash. The 7-1 sixth choice in a field of nine paid $17.80, $7.40 and $5. "I cut the corner with him and then got out," Smith said. "The thing I worry about with this horse is hitting the front too soon; he tends to wait (on horses)." Off a beat slow after bumping with Giant Ryan leaving the gate, Euroears was sent hard from post 1 to grab the lead through a quarter in :21. The advantage was only a half-length, though, as both Giant Ryan and Force Freeze offered relentless pressure, with Big Drama racing outside that trio. Around the far turn, Force Freeze blew past Euroears and Giant Ryan and opened up 1 1/2 lengths while reaching the half-mile marker in :44 2/5. Amazombie got a clear jump on the other closers and was poised to provide the biggest challenge to Force Freeze. The Sprint evolved into a two-horse race in the final three-sixteenths, with Amazombie proving slightly superior over the gutsy 6-1 chance Force Freeze in a time of 1:09 over the fast track.

"He made the lead so easy; I had a hold and he still went to the front," said John Velazquez, who rode Force Freeze. "But I may have let him do too much too soon. I should have held him back. I heard that other horse (Amazombie) coming at the three-sixteenths (pole) and I got after my guy. But he just didn't have enough left. He ran great; I wish I would have waited just a little longer."

Jackson Bend, the 5-2 favorite, conceded the leaders nearly 10 lengths down the backside, attempted to charge from the back, but had too much ground to make up in too little time. He finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Force Freeze. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to Aikenite, who was followed by Hamazing Destiny, Apriority, Big Drama, Giant Ryan and Euroears.

Amazombie didn't debut until age three and then spent that season attempting to break his maiden. He worked his way through the allowance ranks at four last year before advancing to stakes company this past January after running second in a Santa Anita allowance in his dirt debut. In the Sunshine Million Sprint, Amazombie benefited from a hellish pace to wear down Apriority by a head at 11-1. Second in the Senasational Star Handicap on grass next out, he returned to the winner's circle in his next two starts, taking the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes and the Tiznow Stakes for California-breds.

Following a controversial demotion from first to third in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap, Amazombie occupied the show spot again in both the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap and Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. However, moving back from synthetic to dirt for the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes, Amazombie recaptured his best form with a three-quarters of a length triumph. With this likely championship-clinching score, Amazombie elevated his career earnings to $1,525,708 from a line of 23-10-4-5.

"I feel very fortunate and very lucky," said trainer Bill Spawr, who co-owns Amazombie with Tom Sanford. "After he won the Ancient Title, we decided to send him here. That's a 'Win and You're In' race, and if it weren't for the Ancient Title, we wouldn't be here. There are no words to describe the feeling (winning first Breeders' Cup race)."

Bred in California by Gregg Anderson, Amazombie was produced by the winning In Excess mare Wilshe Amaze.

More Breeders' Cup Recaps:

30-1 Karakontie lives up to pedigree in Mile

Bayern survives inquiry to win Breeders' Cup Classic

Take Charge Brandi upsets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at 61-1

Dayatthespa proves uncatchable in Filly & Mare Turf

Judy the Beauty holds on at wire in Filly & Mare Sprint

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