Steve and Jeff Ustin and Dan Capen’s EVER A FRIEND (Crafty Friend) tracked
Storm Military (Arg) (Bernstein) to the head of the lane, put that one away soon
after and spurted clear to a shocking, 3 3/4-length win in the $300,000
Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1)
at Santa Anita on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding, who
was guided by Tyler Baze, broke well and was content to track the early leader
through fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 2/5. Approaching the final turn, the Mike
Mitchell trainee began to accelerate and quickly took the lead, pouring it on
late in a dominating effort at 9-1. Claimed for $62,500 two races back, the
winner paid $20.60, $10 and $5.20 while keying the $82.20 exacta ($1) and $271
trifecta ($1). The final time for the one-mile, firm turf contest was a swift
1:33 1/5.
“As I trained him, he just seemed like he wanted to run long,” said Mitchell,
explaining Ever a Friend’s first win around two turns. “When I worked him, I
asked Tyler, and he thought he could run all day. I said before the race I
thought this was the best claim I ever made.”
Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) was last early but was always in touch with
the group, and the seven-year-old closed very well to garner place honors by a
neck at
6-1. The runner-up returned $7 and $4.20. War Monger (War Chant), the even-money
favorite, was a bit rank while inside to the stretch and stayed on for third, a
neck ahead of Out of Control (Brz) (Vettori) and Storm Military, who finished in
a dead-heat for fourth. Show was good for $2.60. Mr Napper Tandy (GB) (Bahamian
Bounty) was next, while Willow O Wisp (Misnomer) was withdrawn.
Ever a Friend earned his first stakes win when capturing the Impressive Luck
H. last out, and improved his line to 18-5-2-2, $378,668. He was bred in the
Bluegrass State by Liberation Farm and Oratis Thoroughbreds and was produced
from the winning Never Is a Promise (Capote), who is responsible for an unnamed
yearling colt by Hennessy. The winner originally brought $35,000 at the 2004
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling sale.
Mitchell said they will point Ever a Friend toward the Shoemaker Mile (G1) on
May 26, with the long-range goal being the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa
Anita on October 25.