Indian Firewater Wins San Fernando Stakes by a Nose

by Bodog Racebook | Jan 17 2011

On Saturday, Jan. 15, the $150,000 Gr. 2 San Fernando Stakes was expected to mark the highly anticipated 2011 debut of Sidney’s Candy. But an injury to the expected race favorite left a pair of Bob Baffert trainees dueling for top prize at Santa Anita Park.

Indian Firewater, with Mike Smith aboard, set the pace after breaking from the extreme outside post in the 1 1/16 mile race for 4-year-olds. Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Thiskyhasnolimit challenged early on but started to lose ground to Indian Firewater, who had managed to find a seam to the inside, along the backstretch. Indian Firewater’s advantage extended briefly to a length after the turn for home, but making a move down the stretch was the duo of Tweebster and Rafael Bejarano three-wide on the outside. In the final strides, Tweebster pulled even with Indian Firewater for a thrilling photo finish – which revealed that third-choice Indian Firewater had managed to hold on by a nose. His winning time over a fast track was 1:41.53.

Do It All, under Patrick Valenzuela, finished a solid third, and was followed to the wire by Thiskyhasnolimit, Paris Vegas, Haimish Hy, Make Music For Me and Victory With Honor.

Bob Baffert trains both one-two finishers: Tweebster for Kaleem Shah and Indian Firewater for Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman; the victory was his fourth San Fernando Stakes win. For the Kentucky-bred Indian Firewater, the win marks his first career graded stakes score, and the $90,000 winner’s share improves his career earnings to $257,120; the son of Indian Charlie was runner-up behind Sidney’s Candy in the Gr. 3 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Dec. 26 in his last outing. Indian Firewater’s only previous stakes victory came in the Nashville Stakes at Hollywood Park on Nov. 18. He is now 3-6-3 from 14 career starts.

Tweebster, a 4-year-old son of Tapit, had won two allowance optional claimers going in to the San Fernando Stakes; his $30,000 share of the purse boosts his lifetime earnings to $151,760 from a career record of 11-3-4-3.

Don’t miss out on any of the horse racing action! Bet on Bodog’s Race of the Week at the Bodog Racebook!