BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Jeff Bonde looks to use a nice last out victory in a $100,000 optional claiming by Nesso’s Lastharrah to springboard the Florida-bred to a possible upset win in Saturday’s $200,000 Eddie D (Grade 2) at Santa Anita. A 5-year-old horse, Nesso’s Lastharrah is one of nine 3-year-olds and older who will contest six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf course in the Edde D.
Running six-and-a-half furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on August 28, Nesso’s Lastharrah and jockey Emisael Jaramillo raced on the rail behind the leaders then swung out passing the quarter pole to take over midstretch and win handily by a length-and-a-half at odds of nearly 20-1.
Jaramillo used the same tactic on Nesso’s Lastharrah coming down the hill on the Santa Anita turf in April, winning an upper level, $80,000 optional claiming by three-quarters of a length when running for trainer Peter Eurton.
After a short break and a switch to Bonde’s care by owners Mark D. and Patricia L. Cofer Trust, Nesso’s Lastharrah was off the board after stumbling badly in the Grade 3 Daytona on the downhill grass at Santa Anita on June 13, a race that saw Eddie D-contenders Freedom’s Not Free, Sumter and First Peace make up the trifecta. Bonde then sent Nesso’s Lastharrah five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar on July 19, but he tired to finish sixth in an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming.
Nesso’s Lastharrah is three for nine lifetime on the Santa Anita grass and sports a career record of seven wins, five seconds and a third in 21 starts with earnings of $333,480. He is out of the Roman Ruler mare Nesso and was bred in Florida by Amaty Racing Stables of Lake Worth.
Amaty Racing Stables as breeders stand to earn a $5,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association should Nesso’s Lastharrah win this Grade 2 stakes outside Florida.
Jaramillo will be aboard again Saturday from starting stall five and they are listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
Sorrento Skye (Ire) seeks his second straight turf sprint victory in a Grade 2 after taking the Green Flash Handicap by a length at Del Mar on August 22.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Sorrento Sky was third in this race last year, three-and-a-half lengths behind winning Florida-bred Reef Runner and has managed only two thirds in five previous starts against stakes company on the downhill turf at Santa Anita. He did, however, break his maiden going six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill lawn in April of 2024 and won a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming over the course and distance five months later.
By Prince of Lir (Ire) out of Brairfield Lady (Ire), by Battle of Marengo (Ire), Sorrento Sky is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig. He has five career wins with four seconds and six thirds in 21 races while banking $422,918.
Umberto Rispoli will ride Sorrento Sky from post six and they are the 5-2 favorites on the morning line.
Rounding out the entries are Sumter with Mike Smith up, Later Than Planned (Ire) will have jockey Hector Berrios, rider Juan Hernandez teams with Freedom’s Not Free, Amorita will be guided by Kazushi Kimura, Armando Ayuso has the riding assignment on Pure Madness, First Peace will have Joel Rosario in the irons and Paco Lopez will take the reins on Virat.
Return to the September 25 issue of Wire to Wire
