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Big Bane Theory explodes at right instant in City of Hope
Mile
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| Big Bane Theory and Mr. Commons served up the exacta for sire Artie Schiller, the 2005 BC Mile hero
(Benoit Photos) |
Mark Deveraux and Scott Gross' homebred Big Bane Theory launched a perfectly
timed move to capture Saturday's Grade 2, $201,500
City
of Hope Mile at Santa
Anita, getting the jump on deep closer Mr. Commons and topping the exacta
for their sire Artie Schiller. Although not part of the "Win and You're In"
program, the City of Hope serves as a logical course-and-distance stepping stone
to the Breeders' Cup
Mile.
Trained by Carla Gaines, Big Bane Theory was coming off a near-miss in the
August 30 Harry F. Brubaker over Del Mar's Polytrack. That represented an
encouraging seasonal debut, his first start since a fourth in last November's
Citation Handicap. Bettors accordingly dispatched him as the 5-2 favorite to
earn his first stakes win in the City of Hope, which lacked a standout on paper.
Regular rider Joe Talamo reserved him in midpack as a fast pace unfolded up
front. Schoolofhardrocks was zipping through fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 2/5 on
the firm turf, chased by Soi Phet until his pursuer began to tire rounding the
far turn. By that point, Talamo had given Big Bane Theory his cue, and the
lightly raced five-year-old responded.
Advancing rapidly on the inside at the six-furlong mark in 1:08 4/5, Big Bane
Theory emerged as the first danger to the longtime leader. He shifted out for a
clear path to challenge Schoolofhardrocks in the stretch, summarily dispatched
the sophomore, and opened up by 1 1/2 lengths. The winner posted a sharp time of
1:32 1/5 and returned $7.60.
"He's such an easy horse to train," Gaines said. "He's very, very
good-minded, easy to train.
"They picked it up pretty good -- they were going :45," the trainer added of
the early pace. "I was just thinking to myself I hope Joe (Talamo) sits, because
they were going to come back to him. He saved ground. He rode him so
beautifully."
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"We had a perfect trip," Talamo said. "I was able to save ground. They were
flying up front, goin' pretty quick which was perfect for us. I saw Soi Phet
drifting out on the (far) turn a bit and I had to weave us through a bit of
traffic that last part, but I got him out and then he did the rest."
Mr. Commons rallied from far back to take second, just edging the stalker
Avanzare by a neck. Rock Me Baby, who broke a bit tardily and awkwardly from
post 11, did his best work late for fourth. Next came Grand Tito, Trend, Soi
Phet, Poshsky, Fast Track, Schoolofhardrocks and Pepper Crown. Starspangled Heat
was scratched.
The California-bred Big Bane Theory now sports a mark of 11-4-2-1, $330,640.
He broke his maiden in downhill turf sprint here in the fall of 2012, and
successfully stretched out in a 1 1/8-mile allowance next time out. Ninth in the
Hollywood Derby in his stakes debut, Big Bane Theory was fourth in both the Sir
Beaufort and Crystal Water that winter. He wasn't seen again until the summer of
2013, when a close and troubled second to Rock Me Baby on the Del Mar turf. Big
Bane Theory raced only twice more last year, taking a second-level allowance at
Santa Anita prior to his solid fourth to Silentio, Summer Front and Winning
Prize in the Citation.
A half-brother to stakes scorer Laus Deo, Big Bane Theory was produced by
French stakes heroine Shebane, by Alysheba. Shebane descends from the family of
1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Chokai Carol and Group 1-winning
Italian highweight Leadership.
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