Longest shot Great Warrior wins Santa Anita sprint
April 19, 2012ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Brazilian-bred Great Warrior, the longest shot by far in a field of seven, beat a pair of highly regarded horses from the barn of Bob Baffert to win the $60,700 Lost Hills Purse on Thursday at Santa Anita.
Coming off a six-month layoff and sprinting for the first time in eight starts, the 25-1 Great Warrior was sixth early but rallied in the stretch to win by a half-length, beating Baffert-trained stablemates Saddleranch and Hoorayforhollywood.
Ridden by 43-year-old journeyman jockey Omar Berrio for trainer A.C. Avila, Great Warrior covered six furlongs in 1:08.50 and paid $53.60, $18.20 and $5.80. Saddleranch paid $5.40 and $3.80. Hoorayforhollywood, the clear favorite, paid $2.80 to show.
A 4-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux, Great Warrior ran three times in his native Brazil before coming to the United States. He has now won three times in 13 lifetime starts and earned $136,706.