Dismissed at 21-1 despite a flashy local tab, Chris Drakos and Ryan Hanson's Weston (Hit it a Bomb) blasted out of the gate and never looked back to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by War Front) at Santa Anita Sunday. Scrubbed along to seize a narrow advantage on the fence, the $7,000 KEESEP bargain buy headed for home with a clear advantage as only $550,000 OBSMAR purchase Ambivalent (Constitution) seemed to have any shot to catch him. Weston had no thoughts of stopping, however, and streaked home 1 1/4 lengths in front, stopping the clock in :52.27.
A winner of both of his Irish starts at two for Aidan O'Brien and owner/breeder Evelyn Stockwell, Hit It a Bomb overcame the 14 hole to take the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland. He was twice Group-placed back overseas as a sophomore, and the year-older full-brother to Europe's champion 2-year-old filly Brave Anna subsequently took up stud duties at Spendthrift Farm.
Weston's precocious dam Elke (Dixie Union), meanwhile, just missed in her debut as a May juvenile before taking her next two starts and hitting the board in three stakes after that. She produced a Tapiture filly in 2018 and a Speightster colt this season. Weston's third dam is Grade I-winning juvenile Trumpet's Blare (Vice Regent).
3rd-Santa Anita, $51,500, Msw, 6-21, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.27, ft.
WESTON (g, 2, Hit It a Bomb–Elke {MSP, $122,970}, by Dixie Union) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Chris Drakos & Ryan Hanson; B-EVADI Farm Team (KY); T-Ryan Hanson. *$7,000 Ylg '19 KEEJAN; $7,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
