by Jeff Apel
Jockey Alex Solis had high praise for The Pamplemousse following a six-length win as the 1-to-2 favorite in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
“I’ve never ridden anything like him,” Solis said. “The way he’s been training, I expected something like this. He has such a high cruising speed and he’s getting more and more amazing.”
The Pamplemousse solidified his status as a leading West Coast-based classic hopeful by earning his second consecutive graded stakes win in the Sham Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race. The Kafwain colt entered off a two-length win in the San Rafael Stakes (G3) on January 17 at Santa Anita.
Trainer Julio Canani mentioned the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4 as the next likely start for The Pamplemousse.
“He is a nice horse,” Canani said. “Every race, this horse is improving more.”
The Pamplemousse seized command at the start of the Sham Stakes while positioned away from the inside rail and led by one length through an opening quarter-mile in :23.08 and 1 1/2 lengths through a half-mile in :46.51. The gray or roan colt was angled in on the second turn and led by two lengths in early stretch.
Displaying domination approaching the finish, The Pamplemousse easily won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:47.86 on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
Take the Points finished second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Mr. Hot Stuff.
Owned by a partnership that includes Solis’s son, Alex II, The Pamplemouse concluded his juvenile campaign by winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on December 14 at Hollywood Park. Mayor Marv, the runner-up in that race, won the Turf Paradise Derby on February 21.
The Sham Stakes was the first start for The Pamplemousse in a race longer than 1 1/16-miles.
“If you want to get an idea of how he’ll do going a mile and a quarter, I switched to my left stick and hit him one time at the eighth pole and he just took off,” Solis said. “He’s unbelievable.”
The Pamplemousse posted his third win in five career starts and increased his earnings to $209,820.
Bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm, The Pamplemousse is a half brother to stakes-placed winner Thermostat. He out of the winning Rubiano mare Comfort Zone.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jeff Apel is assistant editor of Thoroughbred Times TODAY