Grade Two Win for Dr Dorr
Progressive galloper Dr Dorr (5g Lookin at Lucky x Jax El, by Unusual Heat) continued his rise through the ranks when posting a commanding win in the $200,345 Grade II Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Prepared by Bob Baffert, Dr Dorr won his first Black Type race last start and took another leap forwards with this seven and a quarter length win in the 1 and 1/8th mile contest.
"He handled the distance, no problem,” said winning rider Joe Talamo.
“He was very professional, stalked that horse and when I asked him there, he really took off. It was great to see him finish up like that.
“He's scary-good right now, that's for sure. This was really special, because my mom and dad came out to see the baby [boy, Dominic Anthony, who was born Apr. 19] and they were here in the winner's circle. Winning this race with a horse like this is a real bonus for all of us."
Dr Dorr has the overall record of five wins from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $288,000 and is from stakes-placed Jax El, a full sister to Grade II winner Pretty Unusual.
"I give a lot of credit to Talamo,” said his trainer and co-breeder Bob Baffert.
“He rode him very patiently and he rode him like he's a good horse. I was really surprised myself the way he kicked into gear... I really thought he was a Derby horse, which is why I named him after Dr. Dorr, such a great guy. I was going to run him in the Los Al Futurity, but then he got hurt, so I had to give him time off. I got him back and then he had something with his throat so we did throat surgery... he's spent more time at the horse spa. Finally now.. . All that patience that I'm able to have owning him, and now he's a 100%. Those are three outstanding races that he's run here, so that's pretty impressive, I give him credit.”
Baffert indicated the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 26 as a potential next target for Dr Dorr.
Dr Dorr was the second Grade II winner over the weekend for Lookin at Lucky, who was also represented in the Southern Hemisphere by Our Abbadean (5m Lookin at Lucky x Highland Lights, by Fantastic Light), who won the Grade II Travis Stakes at Te Rapa.