TDN RISING STARS

June 3, 2016 - Santa Anita, Race 6, Msw, USD $56,000, 5 1/2F, .0000

Bendable, f, 3, 2013 by Horse Greeley

1st Dam: Bend (MSP), by Arch
2nd Dam: Stint, by Wild Again
3rd Dam: Hitch, by Cox's Ridge

Owner: Claiborne Farm
Breeder: Claiborne Farm (KY)
Trainer: Richard E. Mandella

Despite a pedigree rich with first- or second-time-out winners and in spite of some very promising morning trials, Claiborne homebred Bendable overcame some pre-race antics to return a very generous 14-1 to her backers. Brought along in typically methodical fashion by this Hall of Fame conditioner, the bay was forward enough to drill a half-mile from the gate in :46 3/5 Apr. 15 (2/58) and showed similar pep in her penultimate breeze, a five-furlong move timed in :59 4/5 May 17 (2/10). A projected 4-1 on the morning line, Bendable was absolutely friendless in the market and made those doubters pay. A touch uncooperative behind the stalls, Bendable was finally loaded away in gate eight and was first to break the line, showing the way through the opening exchanges before easing back into a stalking third beneath go-to rider Flavien Prat. Still traveling ominously well on the turn, she went for home three deep at the head of the lane and widened away in the final furlong for a 3 3/4-length defeat of second-timer Leveler (Even the Score). Favored C. C. Zipp (City Zip) was a further 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time was just 0.71 seconds off the 17-year-old track record set by Hall of Famer Kona Gold. Bendable, foaled two days before current Claiborne stallion Orb (Malibu Moon) won the GI Kentucky Derby, is kin to a pair of debut winners–her full-sister Clearly Now, MGSW & GISP, $1,089,794; and Escapist (Stroll). The latter’s full-brother Fueled By Bourbon won at second asking down this track’s hillside turf course. Bendable’s dam is represented by the current 2-year-old Hard Work (Broken Vow), a $220,000 purchase by Team D out of last year’s Keeneland September sale, and produced a filly by War Front this past Mar. 18. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,600.