Golden State Series: Sensational Star Stakes

BACK IN THE RING

SEASONED WARRIOR WINS SENSATIONAL STAR

BY TRACY GANTZ

It’s hard to know which reason the owners of Brandothebartender celebrated more in the Santa Anita winner’s circle following the $101,000 Sensational Star Stakes March 21. Everyone loves a win, of course, but this was by an 8-year-old who hadn’t won in more than two years. Perhaps more importantly, pandemic restrictions had loosened enough that all four owners could stand together with their horse and their trainer, Craig Dollase.

Brandothebartender might not win often, but he sure knows how to bring home a paycheck. Since winning an allowance race at Santa Anita on the fnal day of 2018, the California-bred had started 18 times and fnished second or third 15 times, 10 in stakes. Tat consistency is not lost on owners Brian Flanagan, Michael Jarvis, Tim Aldrich, and Jerry Weseloh, who quickly credited the horse and the trainer following the Sensational Star.

“Please give him all the love,” said Weseloh, pointing to Dollase.

Weseloh and Aldrich campaign in the name of Flawless Racing, and Weseloh goes back enough years that Dollase recalls Weseloh’s having horses with the trainer’s father, the late Wally Dollase. Craig Dollase and the owners claimed Brandothebartender at Del Mar Aug. 1, 2018, for $40,000, and three starts later he won the $100,000 California Flag Handicap in course-record time.

“We claimed him as a 5-year-old,” said Weseloh. “We won a six-way shake. I think he’s the fans’ horse. So many people love him, and what he’s done as a Calbred—he brings it every single time.”

Dollase calls the gelding a throwback.

“He won at Los Al at fve furlongs (on dirt),” Dollase said. “He’s competitive at a mile and an eighth, and he wins in eight and two this afternoon.”

Te Sensational Star was carded at six furlongs on the turf. Brandothebartender was coming of a third, having lost by just two heads, in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at a mile on the dirt Feb. 28. Brandothebartender and Tiznow second Desmond Doss returned in the Sensational Star against fve others. Bettors favored Jetovator, a smart allowance winner at 61⁄2 furlongs on turf Feb. 20.

Brandothebartender typically comes fying at the end, tactics that nearly worked in the Tiznow and paid of handsomely in the Sensational Star.

Jetovator set a quick early pace of :21.44 for a quarter-mile and :44.67 for a halfmile. Jockey Umberto Rispoli let Brandothebartender race next-to-last, swinging him wide into the stretch.

“Obviously, today the key was to be on the outside and give him a clean run, without any trouble,” said Rispoli.

Brandothebartender gave Rispoli everything he had. Tat took him to the front, and he scored by 11⁄4 lengths in 1:08.51. Jamming Eddy fnished second, a neck in front of Desmond Doss.

John Haagsma and Wesley Ward bred Brandothebartender. A son of Tribal Rule—Frysland, by Stravinsky, Brandothebartender is a half brother to Lost Bus, champion California-bred older female of 2016, also bred by Haagsma and Ward.

Dollase and the owners said they would keep running Brandothebartender as long as the gelding tells them he enjoys his job.

“He’s 8 years old, but he doesn’t know it,” said Dollase.

© BENOIT PHOTO

At age 8, Brandothebartender serves up a victory in the Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita