Proud Tower Too Stands Tall

Breeding the mare Dora’s Tower to the stallion Proud Irish has worked out well for Daniel Cardenas’ Tricar Stables Inc.

The match has produced Proud Tower, the 2-year-old California-bred champion of 2000; Proud Cardenal, the winner of the Phoenix Gold Cup earlier this year at Turf Paradise; and Proud Tower Too, who outdid his older brothers Monday at Santa Anita.

Taking advantage of an opening-day main track that was kind to speed horses, the California-bred became a Grade I winner, upsetting 5-2 favorite Attila’s Storm and 12 others in the $250,000 Malibu Stakes, the final major race of the year for 3-year-olds.

In winning by a length after covering seven furlongs in 1:21.62, Proud Tower Too, a 20-1 shot, gave trainer Sal Gonzalez, a former jockey who has been training for 28 years, and rider David Cohen their first victories in a Grade I.

Successful in five of 16, Proud Tower Too found something extra nearing the finish after surrendering the lead briefly in the stretch.

“It’s always exciting to win, even when it’s a claiming race,” Gonzalez said. “I always hoped this horse would develop into something special, and he has.

“He’s just matured with time. He showed a lot of heart today and kept on going.”

Cohen, who turned 21 Oct. 29, has improved dramatically in recent months, and the Laguna Beach High graduate has certainly found a friend in Proud Tower Too. He rode the bay for the first time in the On Trust Handicap on Dec. 4 at Hollywood Park, and the result was a neck victory at 7-1.

“I learned a lot in the On Trust,” Cohen said. “I worked him twice before that race and got to know about him. It feels awesome, winning a Grade I.”

Thor’s Echo, an 8-1 shot, finished third, nearly four lengths behind Attila’s Storm, and Shamoan was fourth. Wilko, the 7-2 second choice, wound up 11th, extending a losing streak that has reached seven races since his upset victory in the 2004 Breeders’ cup Juvenile.

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Chinese Dragon, the 17-10 favorite, won for the fourth time in as many starts on the Santa Anita turf course, but it was far from easy for the 3-year-old Stravinsky colt.

In succeeding for the fifth time in six races in the U.S., Chinese Dragon prevailed by a nose over 6-1 shot Hockey The General in the first division of the $84,500 Sir Beaufort Stakes. It was the first grass race run on this circuit since the Oak Tree meeting ended Nov. 6.

Kent Desormeaux rode Chinese Dragon, trained by Bob Hess Jr. for a partnership that includes Gino Roncelli, Dick Hale and Michael Carter. The mile was completed in 1:35.09.

Tedo, a 5-1 shot, ran faster than Chinese Dragon in winning the second division. Making his first start since finishing last in the Oak Tree Derby on Oct. 15, the 3-year-old German-bred out-finished 9-5 favorite Eastern Sand by a head to win in 1:34.34.

Corey Nakatani was aboard Tedo for Paul Boghossian and his sons Chris and Paul Jr., who race as Triple B Farms, and trainer Doug O’Neill. It was the first victory in three U.S. starts for the gray, who’d won five of 11 in Europe.

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Da Stoops, the 9-10 favorite, provided trainer Bob Baffert with first of his two winners on the opening-day card as he rolled to an easy triumph in the $135,250 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes.

Owned by Paul Weitman and Kathy Watson, the 2-year-old Distorted Humor colt won for the second time in seven starts, beating 5-2 second choice by 8 3/4 lengths in 1:21.63 for the seven furlongs. Victor Espinoza rode the winner, who has finished worse than third only once.

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The on-track attendance of 34,590 was the largest for an opening day at Santa Anita since 44,549 showed in 1999.

The total mutuel handle was an opening-day record $19,004,624, besting the $18,655,298 wagered in 1998.

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Cliff Goodrich, a former president and chief executive at Santa Anita, was a press box visitor.

Goodrich recently resigned, effective Jan. 6, as president at Arlington Park, and he and his family are selling their home in Illinois and moving here.

Goodrich said that he had no specific plans but that he hoped to remain in racing here.