by Vance Hanson
Amazombie bulled his way between rivals in the stretch and drew off to cross
the wire first by a half-length in Monday’s $100,000 Los Angeles H. (Grade 3) at
Hollywood Park. However, he left too much residual damage in his wake in the
opinion of the stewards, who disqualified the 2-1 second choice and placed him
third. In the right place at the right time was Featherston, Jacobsen and
Miller’s Camp Victory, an 8-1 chance who rallied outside to be a clear second
and was elevated to the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the six-furlong
Cushion Track dash accomplished in 1:08 4/5.
Cost of Freedom, the 8-5 favorite, and Indian Firewater knocked each other
out after dueling through splits of :22 1/5 and :44 2/5. Chasing the top pair in
third was M One Rifle, with Camp Victory and Amazombie racing in tandem a little
further back. While Camp Victory would take the overland route around M One
Rifle in the stretch, Mike Smith aboard Amazombie waited for a seam to open up
between rivals inside the final furlong. When the opening occurred Amazombie
powered his way through, but in doing so bumped into M One Rifle, who in turn
bumped slightly with Camp Victory. M One Rifle lost any momentum he might have
had in the final yards, and despite looking much the best, Amazombie’s number
was taken down after stewards initiated an inquiry.
Camp Victory, under Joe Talamo, returned $18.40, $7.40 and $3.80. M One Rifle
was elevated to second with Amazombie officially placed third. Indian Firewater
retreated to fourth and was followed by Cost of Freedom and Gato Go Win, who
trailed throughout. Supreme Summit was scratched.
No stranger to the claiming ranks, Camp Victory was haltered for $40,000 by
current trainer Mike Mitchell from a one-mile grass test the four-year-old
gelding won at Santa Anita on February 13. Following an off-the-turf optional
claiming score at the same track, Camp Victory just missed catching Regally
Ready by a nose in the grassy San Simeon H. (Grade 3) down Santa Anita’s
hillside course last time. The form has held up as Regally Ready went on to
comfortably win the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs on May
7. Camp Victory now boasts a line of 16-7-1-0, $235,986.
Bred in Virginia by Atkins Homes Inc., Camp Victory was produced by the
winning Victory Trick, a half-sister to Canadian Grade 2 winner Last Answer and
a full sister to multiple stakes winner Victorious Trick. All were produced by
the stakes-winning Victorious Answer, who is also the ancestress of Grade 2
winner Clever Response.