Lonesome Stew Rallies From Last Under ‘Improvised’ Ride By Fresu And Bags 1st Stakes Win In Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes For California-Breds Sprinting About 6 ½ Furlongs On The Hillside Turf Course At Santa Anita

__LONESOME STEW RALLIES FROM LAST UNDER ‘IMPROVISED’ RIDE BY FRESU AND BAGS 1st STAKES WIN IN SUNDAY’S $100,000 SENSATIONAL STAR STAKES FOR CALIFORNIA-BREDS SPRINTING ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS ON THE HILLSIDE TURF COURSE AT SANTA ANITA __

ARCADIA, CA (March 30, 2025)—Lonesome Stew is horse that’s raced almost exclusively on or near the lead in nine career starts. In Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita, a bit of a tardy start forced the 5-year-old gelding to show a new dimension.

With regular rider Antonio Fresu in the irons, Lonesome Stew overcame the slow break with a last-to-first rally in the stretch to earn his first stakes win sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course.

“That wasn’t the plan,” Fresu said of falling back well of the pace. “This horse always shows some speed but today he was acting up a little bit inside the gate and he didn’t leave the gate very well. I just tried to bide my time and improvised a little bit.”

Inside the eighth pole, a wall of horses were lined up battling for the lead including 8-5 favorite Tom Horn and 2-1 second choice Kings River Knight. But rolling to their outside came Lonesome Stew, who stormed past the field to win by three-quarters of a length. Tom Horn was second by a neck over Lovesick Blues (10-1) with another neck back to On the Whim (10-1).

Lonesome Stew, trained by Mark Glatt for owner Linear Bannasch, won in a time of 1:11.55 following fractions of 21.36, 43.38 and 1:05.55.

A 5-year-old gelding by Grazen, Lonesome Stew improved to 10: 5-2-1 with $189,400 in earnings. He most recently aired by 9 ½ lengths on dirt in a first level statebred allowance going 6 ½ furlongs on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita. In his only previous try on turf, Lonesome Stew won a starter allowance sprinting five furlongs at Del Mar in November.

“We had to give him a couple of layoffs, but he always showed some talent,” Glatt said. “Linear was patient with him and afforded us the time he needed to get right. I am glad she is getting rewarded today.”

The top three finishers were all bred by one of California’s most prominent breeders, Nick Alexander. He also campaigned winning sire Grazen and stands the stallion at Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm in Santa Clarita.

Lonesome Stew paid $11.80, $5.00 and $3.80. Tom Horn, ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Steve Miyadi, returned $3.20 and $2.60. Lovesick Blues, with Geovanni Franco up for trainer Librado Barocio, paid $4.40.

Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with a 10-race card starting at 1 p.m.PT.