Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Desert Code, overlooked by the bettors at 35-1 but not by handicapper Bob Hill at tracksideview.com, came on late after wickedly fast fractions to win the Turf Sprint on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The 5-year-old son of E. Dubai did his daddy proud when he blew by Diabolical in the final strides to take the six-and-one-half-furlong race in 1:11.60, two-fifths off the downhill course record.

That record holder, California Flag, along with Mr. Nightlinger flew from the gate and were at each other’s throat latch at the quarter mark in :20.73 seconds. The heat stayed on when the half-mile went in :41.81 seconds, but the early speed was taking its toll. The pack was coming as the field crossed over the dirt course, and Diabolical under Frankie Dettori came away with the lead at the eighth pole.

But Desert Cole was not to be denied and with jockey Richard Migliore’s urging, caught Diabolical late to win by a half-length. Storm Treasure was third and Fleeting Spirit was fourth.

Migliore wanted his horse to relax at the beginning. I just dropped my hands early and let him relax because I knew they were going fast up front. I didn’t want to start to move until we crossed over the dirt, which is where a little bit of my experience riding out here helped. When we turned for home, I thought we had a chance of getting something. But when we got to the sixteenth pole, I thought ‘shoot, we’re going to win this thing’.

“This is so overwhelming. I can’t express myself on how I feel. I always had faith in this colt.”

Trainer David Hofmans didn’t think they would be so far back early. “I thought we’d be closer but when I saw a 41-and-change half, I knew we had a chance. He was so far back, but Richie (Migliore) did a great job. He deserves all the credit. The horse really bounced out of his last race.  He’s never been better and he loves this course. This is his fourth win over it.”

Dettori thought he had the race won.  “It was a good run.  That horse (Desert Code) came out of the blue and got us. I thought I’d won it.  He ran super, just unlucky.”

Saeed bin Suroor, who trains Diabolical was happy anyway. “He ran a big race. I have to be happy with the way he finished. I thought for a second that we won the race. We knew it was going to be a tough race, but he was doing so well, even when he was in England, so I was very confident. I thought before the race that we would win it.”

Jamie Theriot, who was on Mr. Nightlinger, said the battle with California Flag was his undoing. “My horse left there really well. The second jump and I was out front by myself. When we made the first turn, he (California Flag) came up on my inside and my horse kind of got aggressive with me. I’m not going to say I would have won the race, but I would have lasted a lot longer. He lost his footing once we hit the main track. He went over it fine a couple times during the warm up, but galloping and running over it is two different things.”

Desert Code paid $75, $38.80 and $21.