Treasure Beach gets sixth $100,000-plus earner at Santa Anita

As Treasure Hunter cruised down the stretch in Friday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, track announcer Frank Mirahmadi trumpeted his performance with: “Treasure Hunter – a very sharp effort today.”

With Eswan Flores contributing a picture-perfect ride, the 4-year-old son of Treasure Beach had tracked the 8/5 second choice, Ferguson, right from the outset in the mile and one-sixteenth race on the grass. Flores sent Treasure Hunter after the pacesetter on the final turn and went by him in overdrive, opening up a quick three-length lead midway down the stretch. He then held 3/2 favorite Super Dooper Cooper safe in the final sixteenth, winning by 2 1/4 lengths and earning a check for $19,800.

Treasure Hunter was bred in Kentucky by owner Norman G. Houston III, and became his sire’s sixth $100,000 earner, moving into third place on that list at $115,310. He’s Treasure Beach’s eighth winner of 2019, and now sports a record of 3-7-3 in 21 starts.