Hofmans Gets Win in Debut as Trainer

With help from the stewards, Grant Hofmans, son and assistant to Dave Hofmans, scored with his first starter as a trainer Wednesday at Santa Anita.

Fleotan, a 4-year-old that he claimed for owners that include clockers Toby Turrell and Bruno De Julio and owners of a local restaurant, was moved from second to first in the fifth race after Passiano was disqualified.

Claimed for $12,500 on Jan. 27, the gelded son of Afleet won for $20,000 Wednesday. He set the pace under Chris Antley, then was passed by Passiano in the stretch, but the original winner, ridden by leading rider Corey Nakatani, was cited for interference nearing the wire.

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Del Mar Dennis, fourth as the 3-1 second choice in Sunday’s San Antonio Handicap, bled in the race, trainer Paco Gonzalez said.

“We’ll scope him after his next couple of breezes, see if he bleeds and then make a decision (on the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 11),” he said.