Alaskan Son might like cooler weather

ARCADIA, Calif. – A mild spring day at Santa Anita on Friday may provide the perfect comeback scenario for Alaskan Son.

Trained by Phil D’Amato for the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Alaskan Son has not raced since October, when he finished last of 10 in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on a day when temperatures reached the low 90s.

“It was a hot day,” D’Amato said. “He bled a little on us. We gave him time off for his lungs.”

Alaskan Son will start in a first-level optional $40,000 claimer on the hillside turf course in Friday’s third race, which drew eight runners. Santiago Gonzalez will ride Alaskan Son for the first time.

The field includes the promising colt Bombard, who has not raced since August; Derby Music and Tamia the Hawk, who won their last starts against lesser competition; and David’s Memory, who has won twice on the hillside turf course this year.

Race 3

KEY CONTENDERS

Alaskan Son, by Kodiac

Last 3 Beyers: 34-88-85

◗ This race at about 6 1/2 furlongs will be the shortest of Alaskan Son’s career and his ninth start. He was third in a maiden race in Ireland as a 2-year-old in 2015 and won his American debut in a one-mile race at Del Mar last July. Alaskan Son was a troubled third in an optional claimer there in August before the loss in October.

“He’s trained fine,” D’Amato said. “We’ll try him down the hill and see if he can come with a run.

“It’s a good starting point for him, and we’ll see whether he likes the hill. If not, it’s a good race to start, and we can stretch him out.”

Bombard, by War Front

Last 3 Beyers: 88-85-84

◗ Bombard finished in front of Alaskan Son in an optional claimer at Del Mar last August but was later sidelined with a bone chip in a knee, trainer Richard Mandella said.

◗ Bombard was a troubled third in a maiden race on the hillside turf course last April in his career debut and only appearance on the unique surface. He won a maiden race at 1 1/8 miles on turf last June in his third start.

“I think he’s fresh and he’ll run good in the shorter race,” Mandella said. “I think he might like it.”

◗ Bombard is out of Witty, who won the Grade 3 Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2009 for Mandella.

David’s Memory, by Vronsky

Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-74

◗ David’s Memory will play a pivotal role as the pacesetter. Trained by Hector Palma, David’s Memory has not been worse than second in four starts since the beginning of the winter-spring meeting in December, always racing near the front.

David’s Memory has won twice during that span, including an allowance race for California-breds on the hillside turf course on March 24.