Amerman Racing’s Tumbarumba thundered down the center of the Ellis Park track to score his first stakes victory in the Aug. 13 $250,000 Ellis Park Derby.
Tumbarumba was ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Brian Lynch. Tumbarumba covered the one-mile distance in 1:36.02.
The field of eight 3-year-olds broke well in the Ellis Park Derby as longshot Olazabal was hustled to the early lead under jockey Alex Achard. Tumbarumba broke from the rail but Bejarano moved the Louisiana-bred in the two-path and settled in fourth. Following a strong half-mile in :46.33, Olazabal began to tire as Transect and Blue Light dueled on the lead.
At the quarter-pole, Bejarano tipped Tumbarumba to the four-path outside Transect and the closing Loyal Company as he began to show his best stride. Inside the eighth pole, Tumbarumba was able to gain the lead over the battling rivals and pulled clear late for a three-quarters of a length victory.
Transect came out ahead in the place photo over Loyal Company.
“I had a great opportunity to ride a really nice horse today,” Bejarano said. “This horse was training really good, I knew he’d come with his run. I watched his last few races with jockey Luis Saez aboard and he had to be aggressive with this horse about a half-mile out. I tried to do the same thing and it really worked out.”
“He threw a clunker here in the Maxfield stakes over a sloppy track,” Lynch said. “I drove home gutted after that. But we got a fast, dry track today. He worked together with Oscar Eclipse the other day and he won earlier on the card. Tumbarumba worked better than he did. When (Oscar Eclipse) won I was very confident he’d run well. There isn’t any quit to him.”
Tumbarumba’s record now stands at a solid 4-1-1 from nine starts with purse earnings of $254,870. The son of the former Lynch-trained Oscar Performance was bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms.
Positano Sunset Rides Rail to Audubon Oaks Win
Six Column Stables, Randy Bloch, John Seiler, and David Hall’s Positano Sunset had a perfect trip under jockey Chris Landeros and skimmed the rail to victory in the $150,000 Audubon Oaks.
Positano Sunset wins the Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park
It was a fast early pace in the Audubon Oaks as Black Forest was sent to the lead and was quickly pressured by Santa Fe Gold to her outside. Positano Sunset broke well and settled in seventh through an opening quarter-mile in :22.09 and half-mile in :45.41.
Around the far turn, several horses began making wide charges at the leaders including favored Merlazza and second choice Topsy . Landeros kept Positano Sunset in the two path as she began to show her best stride at the eighth pole. Inside the final 1/16th of a mile, Landeros found an opening inside the tiring Santa Fe Gold and pulled clear to a one-length victory. Longshot Flamand battled in the center of the track with Santa Fe Gold and finished a half-length better than her fellow gray rival for the runner-up position.
This was Positano Sunset’s third lifetime victory through seven starts for trainer Ian Wilkes. She completed the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks distance in a solid 1:23.46.
“They were clipping along pretty good up front,” Landeros said. “Ian did a great job getting her ready off the layoff. I just had to bide my time but she was game. I have all the confidence in the world in Ian and he makes it easy.”
Positano Sunset is a 3-year-old daughter of Goldencents out of the Consolidator mare Gigglin’ Gal. She was bred in Kentucky by her owners.
Video: Audubon Oaks (BT)
Video: Ellis Park Derby (BT)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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