by Steve Bailey

Daytona (Ire) continued his roll through the California circuit as he dominated his first start against older horses with a three-quarter-length victory in the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park.

The three-year-old Indian Ridge gelding picked up his third consecutive graded stakes triumph for trainer Dan Hendricks following upset victories in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) on October 13 during the Oak Tree meeting at the Arcadia, California, track and the Hollywood Derby (G1) on November 25 at Hollywood Park.

Jockey Mike Smith began a winning streak of his own with his second straight graded stakes victory during the early stages of Santa Anita’s winter meeting. He captured the La Brea Stakes (G1) on Saturday aboard Dearest Trickski.

Daytona and Grade 1 winner Lang Field, who has scored three previous victories at Santa Anita, battled for the early lead before Daytona forged ahead and took command entering the backstretch.

Once in front, it was no contest as Daytona’s powerful strides kept his five challengers at bay until the final sixteenth when Grade 3 winner Proudinsky (Ger) charged down the center of the track but was unable to overtake the leader.

“I wanted to be on the lead, but the horse outside of me [Lang Field] out-broke me so I had to wait with him,” Smith said. “When we got to the first turn, I just went on with him right into the turn and when we made the lead, he just threw his ears up and got into a rhythm. He’s got such a high cruising speed, he’s really tough on the lead.”

Daytona covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.57 on firm turf as Proudinsky, winner of the 2006 Bay Meadows Derby (G3), finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Grade 2 winner Medici Code (GB) in third.

Bred by the Irish National Stud, Daytona made his first three starts in England and scored a victory and two seconds before making his North American debut at Hollywood Park in May.

He was unplaced in his first two starts but has not missed the board in his six subsequent efforts, all in California. He scored in an allowance/optional claiming race on July 20th at Del Mar prior to back-to-back third-place finishes at the seaside track in August.

“He really matured after Del Mar,” Hendricks said. “He mellowed out, put on some weight, and really came into his own.”

Daytona, who did not run as a two-year-old, has won five of his 11 starts and has earned $551,390 for owners Jeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, Jess Ravich, and Thomas Murray.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times