Brandothebartender Gets Up Late To Win California Dreamin’

DEL MAR, CA – The hard-knocking veteran Brandothebartender set ‘em up and knocked ‘em down late Sunday in capturing the $152,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes by a half length at Del Mar.

The 8-year-old gelding by Tribal Rule made the 46th start of his career a winner and took down the top share of $85,500 from the purse for California-breds. He now has total winnings of $772,864 after 6 seasons at the racetrack and a performance record that reads 46-9-7-15.

Umberto Rispoli was aboard the winner, the 12th time he’s ridden him in a race.

“I love this horse,” Rispoli said. “I know him better than my son. It’s unbelievable. He’s such a cool horse to ride. You can do anything with him – sprint, long, grass, in front, come from the back. He does it all. You just ask him and he does it.”

The bay veteran is trained by Craig Dollase, who got his owners to invest $40,000 in claiming him years ago at Del Mar. The ownership group consists of Flawless Racing of Jerry Weseloh and Brian Flanagan, both of San Diego, and Michael Jarvis of Manhattan Beach, CA.

“The owners are just a great bunch of people,” Dollase said. “We were so lucky to get this horse 2 years ago off the claim and he has been a gem. He’s such a fighter in the lane and he did it again. He’s 8 and he doesn’t know it.”

Finishing second in the mile and 1/16 on the turf was Barber or Wachtel Stable’s Indian Peak and running third was Messineo or Sands’ North County Guy.

Brandothebartender ran the distance in 1:42.55 and returned $11.40, $5.60 and $3.60 across the board. Indian Peak paid off at $6.40 and $4.20 and North County Guy paid $3.80 to show.

Daisycutter Handicap

Earlier on the card, the 4-year-old filly Superstition walker her beat as the race favorite in the $90,380 Daisycutter Handicap, running 5 furlongs on turf in :56.89 and paying $6 to win. The daughter of Ghostzapper is owned by Perry or Ramona Bass and is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella. She was handled by Del Mar’s leading rider, Flavien Prat, who was scoring his third win on the afternoon.