HIALEAH, FL—DECEMBER 26, 2015—Daytona B, a leading contender of year end championship honors, overcame a stutter-step at the start to easily score a 1¼ length win Saturday in the $25,0000 Bienvenido De Nuevo Stakes at Hialeah Park. Talktomeson finished second with Mesa Marvel three-quarter behind in the show position.

In hand at the finish under leading rider Ricky Ramirez, Daytona B completed the 330 yards in :16.680 seconds, a 102-speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. It was the fourth stakes win in seven starts this season for the son of all-time leading sire First Down Dash.

Racing for owner Gregorio Garza, Daytona B entered the race off a dominating performance the Grade 1 $353,500 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park on November 7. He also won the $105,830 Grade 2 Sam Houston Challenge Championship and started his stakes winning spree at Hialeah Park last March by winning the $100,000 Sam Abbey Memorial Invitational Championship.

Saddled by trainer Rolando Almanza the 4-year-old has compiled a (19) 9-3-2 record. The Bienvenido De Nuevo winner's purse of $15,000 boosted Daytona B's lifetime mark to $487,353. Bielau Oaks bred Daytona B in Texas from the Toast to Dash mare Dashing Pana.

“We shipped him here ‘accidentally’ and decided not to send him back,” trainer Rolando Almanza said of Daytona B. “His owner wanted to run in some stakes races at Sunland Park, but we decided to keep him here. With this win under his belt, we’ll shoot for a repeat in the Sam Abbey Memorial.”

Earlier on Saturday's race card Almanza saddled Moon In The Eagle to the Top qualifing time for the $204,310 Hialeah Maturity (see related story).

Jockey Ricky Ramirez, asked about Daytona B’s slight stutter-step at the start, commented, “He took a little step right before the gates opened and he did bobble a bit at the break. But it only took him two or three steps to find his stride, he dug in hard, and we got rolling late.”

Manuel Mata saddled Talktomeson to his second place effort for owner Daisy Martinez. It was the best career finish in a stakes race for the Streak N Dash 4-year-old who earlier this year started for a $15,000 tag at Sunland Park. Cesar Esqueda rode the Cindi Keeton Texas-bred out of Not My Choice, by Jody O Toole. He earned $5,000 for the effort.

Multiple stakes winner Mesa Marvel put in a solid effort to finish third for owner Alayn Acosta and trainer Eduardo Morales. Osdany Leal rode the Foose gelding out of Straw Flying Lady, by Strawfly Special. Bred by Edward C. Allred, Mesa Marvel picked up $2,750 to boost his earnings to nearly $130,000.

Mo Zoomo, A Priceless Gal, Oldsmobile Hill and Da Licious completed the field. Novas Gold and Runaway Canyon were both scratched.