Santa Anita: Gabriel Charles gets another shot at two turns in Eddie Logan Stakes

Tom Keyser

Gabriel Charles will go two turns on turf in Saturday's $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The short-term career path of the 2-year-old colt Gabriel Charles will be determined in Saturday’s $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Logan is run over a mile on turf and will be the second start around two turns for Gabriel Charles, who was seventh in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on dirt here Sept. 29. In his next start, he won his turf debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course Nov. 3.

While owners Sam Britt and Michael House and trainer Jeff Mullins considered a start in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity over 1 1/16 miles at Betfair Hollywood Park earlier this month, they opted for the Logan Stakes. A win in the Logan would result in more two-turn races for Gabriel Charles.

Gabriel Charles finished the Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview with a flourish, pulling away in the final furlong to win by 3 1/2 lengths. The result gives Mullins confidence that Gabriel Charles can run well Saturday.

“I think he’s a little better on the grass, and he’ll have a chance to prove it,” Mullins said.

At the same time, there is concern about the distance.

“He hasn’t proven he can go two turns yet,” Mullins said.

Joe Talamo keeps the mount on Gabriel Charles, a winner of 2 of 4 starts and $102,000.

Gabriel Charles is the only stakes winner in the Logan field, named for the late operator of a shoeshine stand at Santa Anita.

The leading contenders include Ballard Ruler, runner-up in the California Cup Juvenile in October; Dancin Upside Down, third in the Zuma Beach Stakes in October; and Condiment, who placed in stakes at Fresno and Golden Gate Fields in the fall.

Rising Legend is a threat to Gabriel Charles. Imported from England in November, Rising Legend was a fast-closing second to Den’s Legacy in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park on Nov. 24.

“He made a big, strong run,” trainer John Sadler said.

The Logan is one of two $75,000 stakes on Saturday’s nine-race program.

The stakes winners Teddy’s Promise and Great Hot, who were eighth and ninth in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint here Nov. 3, start in the Kalookan Queen Handicap for fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Teddy’s Promise, who won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes in December 2011, has won once in six starts this year – the minor Time to Leave Stakes at Hollywood Park in May. Great Hot, who won the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland in October 2011, is winless in nine starts this year. She was second in the LA Woman Stakes for female sprinters here Oct. 7.

Three fillies and mares in the field won their last starts – Pink Lollipops and Sizzling Gold in optional claimers and Going for a Spin in the Cat’s Cradle Handicap for California-breds at Hollywood Park on Nov. 18.

Going for a Spin races for breeders Tom and Debbie Stull. They lost the 4-year-old filly in a $40,000 claiming race last January and claimed her again for $40,000 in May. Overall, Going for a Spin was claimed four times in the first five months this year.

Since the Stulls reacquired Going for a Spin, she has won two stakes.

The Kalookan Queen is a prep for the $250,000 Santa Monica Stakes over seven furlongs Jan. 26.