Daytona Carving Turf Reputation
California Miler Overcoming Modest Pedigree With Major Wins
Daytona, a 4-year-old son of Indian Ridge, is sealing a bid to the fall Breeders' Cup turf races by gobbling up grass wins in California and Louisiana.
California turfers, in particular, are finding it hard to keep up with Daytona, a gelding with nothing special in his pedigree who has also captured wins in Louisiana. His latest conquest was May 26 in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes, a grade IT event at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, California.
Pedigree Nothing of Note
Daytona's dam is Kyka, by Blushing John. His sire is Indian Ridge, and he was sold at the 2007 March Lincoln Handicap Doncaster sale as an Irish-bred. He had one win in three starts, the basic average win ratio of a good Thoroughbred.
Reborn Turf Terror
The chestnut gelding has entered races at three major Southern California tracks this season and has won at all three locations.
Dan Hendricks trains Daytona, and the chestnut is ridden regularly by Alex Solis. Hendricks had rested his charge after an Apr.5 win in the one mile Arcadia Handicap, a grade IIT. The gelding entered the Shoemaker Mile as a front runner, but Solis was able to relax Daytona to a stalking position behind Ever A Friend.
Daytona answered Solis's call in the stretch and ran down Ever A Friend to win by 1-1/2 lengths in time of 1:33.44 for the eight furlongs.
Hyperbaric finished third in the mile run.
Perfect Drift In The Mix
Nine-year-old Perfect Drift, now trained by Richard Mandella, was in the race, as well, starting for the first time for Mandella. It was Perfect Drift's first contest in eleven months. He placed fourth. In his seven-year career, Perfect Drift has become a multi-millionaire.
Solis, Jr. Helped With Daytona Partnership
Alex Solis, Jr. had a hand in creating Daytona's split ownership. Tom Lenner, who was pleased with Daytona's ability to race off the lead in the Shoemaker Mile, is a co-owner as are Jess Ravich, Tom Murray, and Jeff Davenport. Stockbroker Davenport and Murray sold a total of 20% of their ownership to Chuck Winner and David Bienstock this year.
Davenport had a 30% ownership and sold 15%, while Murray owned 10% and sold 5%. Aided by Solis, Jr., Hendricks and Rebecca Curtis originally purchased the champion gelding.
Ravich takes his ownership to an advertising level. Supporters buy baseball caps with Daytona's winning races stitched onto the sides. At two races per cap, the headpieces are filling up fast. New hats are due now, to show off Daytona's latest win, Solis, Jr. noted.
Daytona Could Enter Breeders' Cup
As he continues to win mile events, Daytona strengthens his position to enter the fall Breeders' Cup furf and mile events. Hendricks and Solis were both encouraged by Daytona's relaxed Shoemaker Mile, which gives the gelding another dimension to build on. He's now more than a front running miler, "a good horse...you can do just about anything with," Solis noted.
