It was a second winner in two days for DEMARCHELIER (GB) when Bandwagon won a Santa Anita Maiden Special Weight in his 2024 debut.
Racing over 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Bandwagon went off as the race favorite but had to steady early on and settled in last place over seven furlongs behind the leader. Moving closer to the leader down the backstretch, he was within striking distance around the turn but had to battle yet more trouble if he wanted the win.
The leader floated Bandwagon out in upper stretch but that wasn’t enough to keep him from getting to the front with the colt taking over inside the final furlong. By the time they hit the line, Bandwagon was in front by three-quarters of a length to take his record to three top three finishes in five starts.
Trained by Philip D’Amato, Bandwagon races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Volcanic Racing and now has earnings of $60,997.
Out of To Honor and Serve mare Beautiful Wife, the 3-year-old was bred by George and Andrea Terry and Ginger Emerson. A five-time winner, Beautiful Wife is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and Where’s Sterling and five other winners from six to race with four of Twinkler’s runners winning at least five races each.
This is also the family of Grade 1 winners Sabin, Love Theway Youare, Wicked Whisper, Gretzky The Great, Sadler’s Joy, and Sakhee’s Soldier.
DEMARCHELIER (GB) leads all second crop sires this year by winners with six while his 18 winners overall puts him ninth with everyone above him having at least 10 more runners.