Mandella Digs Deep, Wins Again

Richard Mandella’s bench continues to come up big.

The second- and third-stringers in one of the United States’ deepest stables are getting the job done in some rather significant races.

When Soul Of The Matter couldn’t make the Hollywood Gold Cup because of a foot bruise, Siphon stepped up for the trainer and scored an upset over Geri.

Nearly a month later, Talloires stunned his more highly regarded stablemate, Sandpit, in the Caesars Palace Turf Championship, depriving Sandpit of a hefty bonus.

Saturday, it was Dare And Go’s turn in the $1 million Pacific Classic, and his victory was the most startling.

An unlikely participant in the Grade I race a week ago, the 5-year-old Alydar horse notched the biggest win of his life and a place in history.

He derailed Cigar’s win streak at 16, and it wasn’t close. The second-longest shot in the field at more than 39-1, Dare And Go won by 3-1/2 lengths. It was clear the underdog would win with a quarter-mile left.

Mandella first gave consideration to the Escondido Handicap, a grass event which was won by Dernier Empereur Friday, and the Harry Brubaker Handicap a week from today. But after conferring with the horse’s owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Mandella decided Monday to run in the Pacific Classic.

With Luthier Fever almost certain to finish last - and he would have, had Tinners Way not gone wrong - Dare And Go was all but assured of a check.

Nobody could have expected a win, not from a horse who had won once in eight starts since winning the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita in Feb., 1995.

“Realistically, I thought Siphon had the best chance to beat Cigar, but I thought Dare And Go had a legitimate chance to get a part of it,” said Mandella. “But I didn’t think Cigar would get beat, honestly.”

Siphon definitely played a part in his stablemate’s win. Jerry Bailey, who had chased Siphon home in the Gold Cup when aboard Geri, didn’t want to let him get away Saturday.

That contributed to some fast fractions (45 4/5, 1:09 1/5 and 1:33 3/5) for the mile and set things up for Dare And Go, who relaxed well under Alex Solis.

“I was really happy with the way the race set up,” said Solis, who couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when he went past the wire. “I got myself a really good spot down on the rail and saved lots of ground. I was riding to save my position and it was working out great.

“At the three-eighths pole, I started to think I really had a shot. At the quarter pole, I asked him and he gave me a great kick. When I pulled up next to Cigar, I just kept on riding, riding, riding.

“When my horse pulled out about a length on him, I knew I was going to win it. It felt terrific, one of the best feelings of my life.”