Redattore Is a Real Stunner

The last two times trainer Richard Mandella won the San Antonio Handicap, the hall of famer followed with a win in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Although he won the two races with three horses (Gentlemen, Siphon and Malek) in 1997 and ‘98, Mandella may be able to accomplish the feat with the same thoroughbred this year.

Redattore, who has spent most of his career racing on grass, may have earned himself a spot in the $1-million Big ‘Cap on March 2 after his half-length win Sunday over 5-2 second choice Euchre in the $250,000 San Antonio.

Redattore, the 7-year-old son of Roi Normand and owned by Brazilian Luiz Alfredo Taunay, paid $25.40 after his upset in the Grade II. Ridden by Alex Solis, who had last won the San Antonio 10 years ago with Ibero, Redattore, who was never far off the pace set by Euchre, completed the 11/8 miles in 1:48 3/5.

“He won by a half-length, but he did it very easy,” Solis said. “I waited until the eighth pole to ask him to run because I wanted to make sure I had enough horse because I was expecting Lido Palace to be coming at the end. I had a lot of horse the whole way and he really gave me a good kick at the end.”

Making his first start since Nov. 24, Lido Palace, the 4-5 favorite, made for another long trip to California for jockey Jerry Bailey. Beaten the previous two weeks by heavy favorites Siphonic and Squirtle Squirt in local stakes races, Bailey had to settle for fourth on the 5-year-old, who won a pair of Grade I’s in New York last year for trainer Bobby Frankel.

“I really don’t think [Lido Palace] handled this track very well,” said Frankel, who will saddle the likely Santa Anita Handicap favorite Mizzen Mast, who was so impressive winning the Strub Stakes on Saturday. “That’s what I was scared of, you know. I’ll put him away until New York.”

Lido Palace’s failure to hit the board led to inflated show payoffs. Of the $183,000 bet to show in the San Antonio, $157,000 was wagered on Lido Palace, so Redattore returned $32 to show, Euchre $11.80 and Irisheyesareflying, the 14-1 shot who was third, paid $26.40.

Mandella, who has had three winners the past two days at Santa Anita after getting off to a slow start at the meet, said Redattore will either return in the Big ‘Cap or wait for the Dubai World Cup later in March.

“It’s too early to tell what we’ll do,” Mandella said. “He’s a good horse. He had a foot abscess after he ran [in the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile on Oct. 7] and we had to cut part of the sole of his foot out and it just had to grow back out.

“He had been training well and he ran well. I told Alex just to let him place himself.”

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Wooden Phone, a multiple-stakes winner last seen capturing the San Pasqual last month, has a fractured shoulder and will be out for several months, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

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Cellars Shiraz, an 18-1 shot, became a stakes winner with a victory over 3-1 favorite August Storm and eight others in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

A 3-year-old Kissin Kris filly owned by Bitterroot Investments, Inc. and trained by Bill Cesare, she completed the 11/16 miles on turf in 1:43 1/5 under jockey Cornelio Velasquez while winning by 11/4 lengths. It was the third win in 12 starts for Cellars Shiraz. She’s Vested finished third.