West Bank The barn’ Tahoma (c, 2, Evenly–Madera Dancer, by Rahy) became the first male winner for her Triple Crown with a two-time stretch win at Santa Anita Sunday. The chestnut pony, which was beaten on the 4-5th favorites list, tracked the pacesetters four times wide in the opening quarter at: 22.21. Still four wide, he rolled up to take advantage of a narrow advantage at the top of the lane, finished the half-mile with a score of: 47.01 and advanced into the final round of sixteen for a gentle win. Salta (Carpe Diem) was second and Eagles Landing (Competitive) was third.
Leandro Mora, assistant coach Doug O’Neill, said: “We had high expectations and we felt this pony had a lot of advantages. “We coach these kids pretty much like Brian Mayberry did when I worked for him 30 years ago. We don’t train too much of a horse for these races. This pony has so many possibilities and I feel really confident about its future.”
Tahoma, an avid September sale of Keeneland for $160,000 by bloodline agent Dennis O’Neill, is half-brother to the winner of Legends of War (Scat Daddy).
Mara said: “Dennis bought this horse and it has the eyes of an eagle. “He provided us with a lot of beautiful horses. Doug was on his way back from Maryland, but he was on the phone and he knew we won.”
Doug O’Neill coached Legends of War to victory in GIII Franklin-Simpson S. 2019 at the Kentucky Downs.
Madera Dancer produces a pony by Nyquist This year.
2nd-Santa Anita, $68,902, Msw5-22, 2yo, 4 1/2f,: 53.89, ft, 2 length.
TAHOMA (c, 2, Evenly–Madera Dancer, by Rahy) $160,000 Ylg ’21 HOLD. Click to view Equibase.com chart or VIDEO sponsored by TVG. Lifetime record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200.
O-West Bank Stables, LLC; B-Hunter Valley Farm, Fergus Galvin & Golden Vale Farm (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill. * 1/2 for Legends of War (Scat Daddy), GSW-USA, GSP-Eng, $491,240.
