Just a Command, a 99-1 longshot making his second career start, keyed an all-time record 50 cent Trifecta payoff of $31,184.10 in Saturday’s sixth race at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Ridden by Tiago Pereira and trained by Eric Kruljac, Just a Command finished a neck in front of 17-1 longshot Funkenstein, who was a half length better than Ben’s a Goalie, who was off at 7-2.
Ninth, beaten 20 ¼ lengths in his 5 ½ furlong debut at Los Alamitos Dec. 17, Just a Command was nearly shipped out of state in search of softer competition.
“I was ready to send this horse to Turf Paradise,” said native Arizonan Kruljac. “It just goes to show, you never really know.”
The winning Trifecta numbers were 8-11-12, and the payoff technically eclipsed Santa Anita’s previous Trifecta record of $52,892.50, established on a one dollar ticket on Sept. 26, 2001.
Owned and bred in California by Four Quarters Corp, Just a Command paid $201.00 to win on a two dollar ticket. A 3-year-old California-bred colt by Forest Command that was entered for a maiden claiming tag of $50,000, picked up $21,000 for the win.
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