Big Score Lives Up to His Name in the Zuma Beach
/Monday, October 10, 2016 | Back to: Top News
9th at San, $100,000Zuma Beach S.(1m)Winner: Big Score, c, 2 by Mr. Big
ZUMA BEACH S., $102,415, SA, 10-10, 2yo, 1mT, 1:33.56, fm.
1–#BIG SCORE, 120, c, 2, by Mr. Big
1st Dam: Not Unusual, by Unusual Heat
2nd Dam: Fly First Class, by General Meeting
3rd Dam: Laura’s Jet, by Wajima
O/B-George Krikorian (KY); T-Tim Yakteen; J-Flavien Prat.
$60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $117,800.
2–Sonic Boom, 118, c, 2, More Than Ready–Silent Circle, by
Indian Charlie. ($135,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Lothenbach
Stables, Inc.; B-Athens Woods, LLC & More Than Ready
Syndicate (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $20,000.3–Ventry Bay, 118, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Raffishing Look, by
Kingmambo. ($325,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Ice Wine Stable,
Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Gainesway
Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $12,000.Margins: 3 1/4, HF, NO. Odds: 4.80, 4.30, 12.30.
Also Ran: Harbour Master (GB), Oopper Wallah, Offshore, Billy Big (Ire), Bowies Hero, Riser, Colonel Samsen, Secret House, Sorry Erik. Scratched: Toshiro.
Big Score, a maiden winner going one mile over the Del Mar lawn July 24, was second behind the reopposing Bowies Hero going the same distance in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. The dark bay colt angled over from his outside post and settled in mid-pack early while three wide as Riser (Mizzen Mast) zipped through fractions of :21.89 and :44.83. He made rapid progress on the final bend and powered to the lead in upper stretch and spurted clear for an authoritative victory. “I think he can handle more distance,” admitted winning trainer Tim Yakteen. “I definitely don’t think distance will be any concern. I think he showed that he’s not one dimensional today. He doesn’t have to come from completely out of it. The pace was substantially faster today, the first part of the race, and Flavien [Prat] kept him a little closer but it didn’t seem to compromise his kick. He still had a pretty good kick.” The win had owner/breeder George Krikorian dreaming of a return to Santa Anita next month. “The way he’s been running, we thought he’d run well today,” Krikorian said. “We’ll definitely point him now to the million-dollar race [GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 4.]” Krikorian campaigned the winner’s sire, two-time winner Mr. Big (Dynaformer). “These horses by Mr. Big are showing a lot of promise,” he said. “I moved him to E.A. Ranches in Ramona for this year and he was bred to 39 mares. If he keeps going the way he is, he could be the best son of Dynaformer at stud.” Mr. Big is \fs21softlinealso the sire of graded stakes placed Big Book. Not Unusual, purchased by Krikorian for $67,000 at the 2007 Barretts October Yearling sale, produced a filly by Mucho Macho Man this year and was bred back to Mr. Big.