Mandella’s Heavily Favored Kopion Cruises To 5 ¾ Length Score In Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ynez

MANDELLA’S HEAVILY FAVORED KOPION CRUISES TO 5 ¾ LENGTH SCORE IN GRADE III, $100,000 SANTA YNEZ WITH PRAT ABOARD

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 7, 2024)—Heavily favored following a big first-out maiden win, Richard Mandella’s Kopion overcame a touch of greenness early to register an impressive 5 ¾ length score in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden by Flavien Prat, the 3-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach got seven furlongs in 1:23.89.

Breaking sharply from the rail, Kopion’s primary opposition, Tambo, stumbled leaving the gate to her immediate outside and Kopion made an easy lead but shied a bit as the field came out of the chute to join up with the main track oval.

With Prat in firm control however, Kopion recovered quickly and had a 1 ½ length advantage on Don’t Bring Crazy three furlongs out and increased her lead to 2 ½ lengths at the quarter pole. Hand-ridden to the wire, Kopion was never threatened and galloped out powerfully.

Off at 1-5 in her 6 ½ furlong debut on Nov. 26 at Del Mar, Kopion was again off at 1-5 versus three rival sophomore fillies today and paid $2.40 and $2.10 with no show wagering.

A $270,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale graduate, Kopion, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm and is out of the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Ami, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her bankroll to $96,600.

The longest shot in the field with Juan Hernandez up at 16-1, Don’t Bring Crazy sat second the entire trip and paid $4.60 to place while finishing 4 ¾ lengths in front of an unlucky Tambo.

Fractions on the race were 23.70, 46.55 and 1:10.87.

Racing resumes on Friday with first post time for a nine-race card at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m.