Amazombie defends Potrero Grande title to give Smith 5,000th victory

Amazombie defends Potrero Grande title to give Smith

5,000th victory

Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Amazombie opened his six-year-old season with a

third in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on February 25, but returned to his

winning ways just in time to give jockey Mike Smith his 5,000th career victory

on Saturday while conquering the Grade 2, $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes for the

second straight year at Santa Anita Park.

The duo bided their time in second as nice maiden winner Roman Threat set the

pace in his stakes bow, posting splits of :22 and :43 4/5. Smith sent Amazombie

around the leader through six furlongs in 1:07 4/5, and the Northern Afleet

gelding kept right on motorin to complete the 6 1/2-furlong contest in 1:14.

Amazombie was the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60, $3 and $2.10 when finishing

three parts of a length in front of Roman Threat on the fast dirt. Sway Away

tried rallying up the rail but could not catch the top two and just lost third

by three-quarters length to Camp Victory. Mensa Heat and Thinking of Girls

finished the order under the wire after Smart Spending, Courtside and Thunder of

Zion were withdrawn.

Amazombie was honored as the 2011 champion sprinter after taking the

Breeders' Cup Sprint, Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes, Potrero Grande, Sunshine

Millions Sprint and Tiznow Stakes last season. The bay also placed in the Grade

1 Triple Bend Handicap, Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes, Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes

and Sensational Star Stakes in 2011, the first year he actually competed against

stakes company. Saturday's win improved his record to 25-11-4-6 and the gelding

has now earned $1,639,708.

Campaigned by Tom Sanford and trainer Bill Spawr, Amazombie was bred in

California by Gregg Anderson. A $32,000 RNA at the Barretts January sale, the

six-year-old is out of the winning In Excess mare Wilshe Amaze, who is a

half-sister to dual stakes victor Flom's Prospector. This family has also

produced Grade 2-placed multiple stakes-winning sire Al the Doctor as well as

multiple Grade 2-placed Arcades Ambo.