Amazombie takes Ancient Title as The Factor falters

by Vance Hanson

Bob Baffert's three-year-old star The Factor was heavily favored to take

Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Ancient Title at Santa Anita, but the charismatic

gray never looked comfortable throughout the six-furlong journey and wilted to

fourth after dueling into submission.

The one who stepped forward to fill the void, Tom Sanford and Bill Spawr's

Amazombie, is no stranger to visiting the winner's circle after big sprint

stakes in California. Already winner this season of the Sunshine Millions

Sprint, Grade 2 Potrero Grande and the Tiznow, the five-year-old gelding notched

his first top-level victory with a three-quarters of a length score in a time of

1:08 1/5 over a fast track. Amazombie paid $8.60, $3.60 and $6.60 at 3-1.

Jockey Martin Garcia had to urge The Factor on a bit leaving the gate to make

the lead, where he was soon under constant pressure from Sirocco Strike. The

fractions were rather heated -- :21 1/5 and :43 4/5 -- as the two were heads

apart, while Square Eddie sat the garden trip in third and Amazombie tracked

outside in fifth under Mike Smith.

Sirocco Strike called it a day turning for home, but The Factor also had

nothing left as Amazombie made a sweeping five-wide move turning for home and

assumed the lead inside the eighth pole remaining. He continued to hold steady

all the way to the wire, as Irrefutable came on late to grab second by a nose

over the inside rallying Mensa Heat. The Factor was beaten 5 1/4 lengths and

beat only Sirroco Strike and Square Eddie to the finish.

When asked whether Amazombie will go on to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint

on November 5, trainer Bill Spawr was keeping all options open.

"We'll see how he comes out," he said. "We hope to, if he comes out fine. If

he doesn't, he'll run in the Cal Cup (Sprint on October 29). We have a month."

Baffert was also talking about pressing on to the Breeders' Cup with The

Factor.

"The post position was a killer for him. They had him trapped," Baffert said.

"The winner's a good horse -- it was a tough race. That happens. When it was 21

flat for the first quarter, I knew it was over. He had to rush him. We learned

something from that race.

"As long as he comes out of it all right, this will set him up for the next

one (the Breeders' Cup Sprint). The next race will be the most important one. I

didn't want to change his style today."

In addition to his three prior stakes wins this season, Amazombie was demoted

from first to third in the Grade 3 Los Angeles. He also occupied the same slot

in the Grade 1 Triple Bend and the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. His record now stands at

22-9-4-5, $715,708.

Amazombie is by Northern Afleet out of the winning In Excess mare Wilshe

Amaze. He was bred in California by Gregg Anderson.