Steve Andersen 14y

Ventana breaks through in 'Grande

Horse Racing

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Ventana won the first stakes of his career in Saturday's $150,000 Potrero Grande Handicap at Santa Anita, but the partnership that owns the sprinter, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez were hoping it would have been their second big win of the day.

An hour before the Potrero Grande, owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman watched in frustration as the Baffert-trained Lookin At Lucky finished a troubled third under Gomez in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Gomez had a much better run aboard Ventana, who won the Grade 2 Potrero Grande by a nose over Gato Go Win. "It's good to get a stakes win for the day," Baffert said.

Ventana fought for the early lead with Eaton's Gift and Gato Go Win through fractions of 22.27 and 44.91 seconds. Ventana shook off Eaton's Gift by the head of the stretch, but was still troubled by Gato Go Win. The two were virtually inseparable in the final furlong, with Ventana just prevailing. Gato Go Win finished three-quarters of a length in front of the Baffert-trained E Z's Gentlemen in the field of eight.

Gato Go Win was unlucky to lose. "He ran huge and showed he belongs," trainer Bobby Troeger said. "I could tell on the slow-mo that he got beat on the head bob."

Ventana had been second in the Palos Verdes and San Carlos handicaps for sprinters earlier at this meeting, and has won 3 of 14 starts and $256,517.

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