Accomplished seasoned veteran Cabo Spirit, bred by WinStar Farm, closed out his 6-year-old season with a bang, going gate-to-wire in the Grade 3, $100,000 San Gabriel S. on Sunday Opening Day at Santa Anita.
The millionaire son of Pioneerof the Nile is no stranger to success at the ‘Great Race Place’ having secured three of his four prior Graded wins at the Arcadia oval, including the Grade 3 American S. in May and the Grade 2 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship last September. During his sophomore campaign, he won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita two starts following a win in the Grade 3 La Jolla at Del Mar.
Owned by Kertz Racing and trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit was sent off at 6-1 odds and led the strung out field through opening fractions of 23.18 and 47.17 over the good turf. Around the far turn, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith gave Cabo Spirit his cue as stakes-winner Astronomer inched his way closer with his menacing bid. In the stretch drive, Cabo Spirit fended off a stubborn Astronomer to his outside and held on to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Astronomer held second with a late-rallying Mondego getting up for third. Cabo Spirit earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.
“He loves Santa Anita, he trains well, and he ran huge,” Papaprodromou said. “At the quarter pole when he opened up a length or two I thought he kind of got it but he’s one of those horses that is sneaky. He knows when they are coming. Sometimes he wants to wait for them but today he just took off. He always tries and has his ways. I had him as a 2-year-old, and I love him.”
The victory enhanced Cabo Spirit’s lifetime earnings to $1,356,836 with a 39-7-5-9 lifetime record. He is out of the Irish-bred Shamardal mare Fancy Day with his second dam Tizdubai being a full-sister to dual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and pensioned WinStar stallion Tiznow.
