Air Force Red to get break after San Simeon win on short rest

ARCADIA, Calif. – As trainer Leonard Powell left the winner’s circle following Air Force Red’s win in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita, he turned toward a track executive to announce short-term plans for his 7-year-old veteran.

“He won’t be running next weekend,” Powell said.

Air Force Red had a rare schedule for a modern Thoroughbred in early March, racing on consecutive weekends. He went from a last-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 1 to a win in the San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course, his third career stakes win.

From Powell’s perspective, the rapid return was possible after Air Force Red had a less-than-ideal trip on March 1. Air Force Red chased a slow pace while racing on the inside and was not a factor in the final furlong of the Kilroe under jockey Juan Hernandez.

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“He didn’t have a hard race in the Kilroe,” Powell reflected Sunday. “If he’d run second or third or won, it would not have been a possibility.

“They ran the half in 47 [seconds] and when he got blocked in, J.J. didn’t persevere with him. That made the turnaround easier.”

The two races in as many weekends will result in a rest in coming weeks for Air Force Red. The Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf April 20 will be considered, which could lead to the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 26. The next turf sprint for older horses at Santa Anita is the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on June 14.

Powell said Air Force Red has handled the two races without difficultly.

“He bounced back well from the race,” he said.

Air Force Red, who races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Holly Golightly, has won 7 of 24 starts and earned $711,074.

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