Sandy Bottom © Benoit Photo

James and Donna Daniell’s Sandy Bottom set a strong pace, then held on – barely – to upset comebacking stakes star Tamara in the headline event at Del Mar Friday.

At the end of six furlongs in 1:10.06, jockey Umberto Rispoli held Sandy Bottom together for a nose triumph over the 2/5 favorite in the $79,800 allowance test for fillies and mares aged 3 and up.

Tamara, who is owned by her breeder, Spendthrift Farm, was making her first start since November 3, 2023 and jockey Mike Smith navigated through some tight quarters to put the daughter of Bolt d’Oro in position to pull off a victory, something they just missed. Running third, three and a quarter lengths farther back, was Hronis Racing’s Anywho.

The winner was making a comeback of her own, having last raced on October 21, 2023. She now has won all three of her lifetime starts, including the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita last year. She earned a first prize of $36,600 and pushed her earnings total to $140,622. She paid $10.20 to her backers.

Tamara, who is out of the Hall of Fame racemare Beholder, is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. He trained her mother, too, over five seasons during which she won Grade I races at ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. She was a winner of three Breeders’ Cup races and four Eclipse Awards.