After resisting a bid by A Lil Dumaani at the head of the stretch, Dance With Gable drew clear again to score by one length over fast-closing Big Bad Leroybrown with the filly Flashover another three-quarters of a length back in third. The running time was 1:11.97.
The winner paid $11, $5.60 and $4. Big Bad Leroybrown, with Tyler Baze in the saddle, returned $7.20 and $3.60. Flashover, ridden by Joe Talamo, paid $3.60 to show.
A 5-year-old gelding who has done much of his running in Northern California, Dance With Gable has been an extremely consistent performer over any surface with an overall record of 8-4-3 in 19 career starts.
The California Sky marked his first start over Santa Anita’s unique hillside grass layout and his second win in three tries on turf.
The son of Dance Floor was making his third start for the partnership of Arbitrage Stable, Pro Selections Stable and partners as well as for trainer Mike Machowsky.
Claimed out of a third-place finish in a turf sprint at Del Mar, Dance With Gable proceeded to take the $81,000 California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Sacramento on Aug. 29. He won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 9-1.
He was sent off a 9-2 in last month’s $50,000 Governor’s Cup Handicap at Fairplex Park, but checked in sixth after a troubled trip. “He got bumped on the first turn and that was it,” noted Machowsky.
Dance With Gable earned $32,328 for his connections with the California Sky triumph which raised his career winnings to $222,325.
Oak Tree racing continues on Thursday at Santa Anita with an eight-race program that commences at 1 p.m. General Admission is $5 and Club House admission is $8.50.
