Focus_Jan.qxd:Layout 1
1/6/11
12:45 PM
Page 10
Worth the Wait in CashCall Futurity BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
Florida-bred Comma to the Top powers home after delaying the start of the race cause at Del Mar we knew he could go long. He started moving in the right direction as soon as he got two turns. He kicks away when you need him to. That move on the turn felt great.” Comma to the Top was bred in Florida by Richard and Linda Thompson. The
“
Wow, that was something. To run like that on top of everything that happened, he’s just an amazing horse. We’ve been real patient with him because at Del Mar we knew he could go long.
”
—jockey Corey Nakatani
10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2011
$22,000 OBS April graduate, owned by Gary Barber, Roger Bimbaum and Kevin Tsujihara, has now won three consecutive stakes races and five straight overall. The winner is trained by Peter Miller.
At the Top of His Game By NICK FORTUNA Richard and Linda Thompson waited anxiously for 28 long minutes Dec. 18 as the CashCall Futurity was delayed so that Comma to the Top could get a replacement shoe for his right hind leg. In the end, the Florida-bred gelding’s performance was well worth the agonizing wait, as he won by 1 ¾ lengths at Hollywood Park. The Thompsons bred Comma to the Top at their 45-acre Oak Vale Farm in Morriston. The son of Journeyman Stud stallion Bwana Charlie earned his third consecutive stakes victory in the race and became the first Grade 1 winner bred by the Thompsons. “It was frustrating because of the delay, but the race was exciting,” said Linda Thompson. “I’m sure the trainer’s head was probably spinning around (because of the delay). Corey Nakatani just rode him to a T. He just sat chilly on him, and when
Comma to the Top becomes
he was ready to move, he just asked him to move. ”As a baby, he was a very quiet, well-mannered individual, and evidently, he still is. I just think he’s amazing.” Comma to the Top was a $22,000 purchase at OBS in April and was consigned by Anthony’s Clyde Rice. His own-
Florida-bred Comma to the Top (below) and Richard and Linda Thompson
BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
“Wow, that was something,” said Nakatani. “To run like that on top of everything that happened, he’s just an amazing horse. We’ve been real patient with him be-
CINDY MIKELL PHOTO
By MICHAEL COMPTON The field for the CashCall Futurity (G1) was forced to wait nearly 30 minutes past post time for the start of the $750,000 Grade 1 event Dec. 18 at Hollywood Park while Florida-bred and race favorite Comma to the Top had a shoe replaced on his right hind hoof. Once he was ready to roll, however, Comma to the Top was not in a waiting mood. The son of Journeyman Stud stallion Bwana Charlie exercised all the patience he had left to rate comfortably in second place off High Level Jeff in the early going of the 1 1/16-mile test. When the field hit the far turn, Comma to the Top was more than ready to strut his stuff. When asked to run by jockey Corey Nakatani, he simply powered away from his rivals. Comma to the Top was never menaced through the lane and stopped the clock in 1:44.18. Fellow Florida-bred Gourmet Dinner checked in fourth after putting in a nice rally while traveling wide around the far turn.