Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Sebastian James, an orphan colt who became a pet for breeder Steve Johnson, his wife Jeneen and their daughter Charlotte, chalked up his fourth win in succession after a debut third placing when he set the pace and held on grimly to win the Group 2 $100,000 Pearl Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sebastian James, a colt by American sire Captain Crunch and owned by Steve Johnson and his daughter, and trained by Katja Warwick is still learning to race, and his four wins have all come after leading and holding on to score by a narrow margin.
“He is well educated but is very casual,” said leading reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. “It helps when you get a good barrier (No. 1), and it is great to get the drive after Chris (Lewis) jumped off (at his latest three starts after he had driven him at his first two starts for a debut third placing and a win).”
Lewis opted to drive stablemate Hold The Ammo, who was a $21 chance from the outside of the back line in Friday night’s classic over 2130m.
“It’s great to get the steer on this kind of horse,” said Suvaljko. “In the closing stages Sebastian James had plenty left. I had to hold him back on the corner (to keep Im Massimo, the $2.75 favourite, in a pocket), and that’s not ideal.
“I had to wait until Im Massimo (a smart heat winner) finally got clear (about 220m from home) and went three deep until I went for Sebastian James. He gave me a great kick for 50 metres, and then he kind of said ‘where are they?’”
Sebastian James held on gamely to beat the $61 outsider Belly Up, who flew home to lose by a nose after racing in sixth position in the one-wide line for reinsman Stuart McDonald. Im Massimo was 5m farther back in third place, a nose ahead of $51 outsider Como El Viento, who finished strongly from last at the bell.
Sebastian James, the $2.80 second favourite who rated 1.57.7, has won at four of his five starts for earnings of $92,711. “His dam Nina Sue died two days after he was born and he was raised by Charlotte and a couple of mares,” said Steve Johnson. “And he became a family pet and that’s why he didn’t go to the yearling sale.”
Hold The Ammo, a Sweet Lou colt bred by Johnson, did go to the yearling sale where he was purchased for $140,000 by Tom Erceg. Hold The Ammon broke in the score-up in Friday night’s race and lost about eight lengths. He made up a lot of ground to be seventh on the pegs at the bell before wilting to finish tenth in the field of twelve.