Long layoff no problem for Bettys Bambino in San Simeon

Bettys Bambino looked awfully solid on paper in Monday's $102,415 San Simeon (G3), but bettors were a bit hesitant to back the veteran, who possessed a five-for-six record down Santa Anita's hillside turf, off a 22-month layoff.

The true believers were rewarded when the Peter Eurton-trained six-year-old rolled to an impressive victory under Joel Rosario, stopping the timer in 1:11.95 for about 6 1/2 furlongs on a course rated good. Last seen completing a four-race, course-and-distance win streak in the $100,000 Sensational Star on February 21, 2015, Bettys Bambino paid $15.80.

Entering the stretch several lengths off pacesetter Hobbits Hero, who set splits of :21.60 and :43.36, Bettys Bambino made a six-wide rally and was 2 1/4 lengths clear of Stormy Liberal at the finish. Richard's Boy, the lukewarm 4-1 favorite, was a head farther back in third.

"It's hard to give horses that only have 10 starts some preps but it was a great race," Eurton said. "After his last race he came up with a suspensory so we did a scan and he had a little lesion, nothing horrible. So, we did a little PRP on him, he took six months off and he came back training great for the race. No issues whatsoever. We had to give him the normal time off to recover and here he is today. It took a lot of waiting and a lot of patience. We could've easily given up but that would just be a waste of talent."

This was the third stakes win in as many attempts for Bettys Bambino, who also landed the 2014 edition of the Daytona (G3). Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, the California-bred has now earned $378,036 from a line of 11-7-0-3.

By Unusual Heat and out of the High Brite mare Brite Betty, Bettys Bambino is from the family of Hall of Famer Tiznow and his graded stakes-winning full siblings Budroyale and Tizdubai. Preakness (G1) victor Oxbow and Grade 1 scorer Paynter also hail from this female line.