Allowance a tryout for stakes for King Abner

ARCADIA, Calif. – King Abner could start in a six-figure stakes in late January, pending the results of a $67,000 allowance race for California-breds at a mile on turf on Monday at Santa Anita.

King Abner has been in brilliant form, winning an optional claimer for California-breds at a mile by 7 1/4 lengths on Nov. 15 at Del Mar and an optional claimer against open company at a mile by 2 1/2 lengths on Dec. 8 at Los Alamitos.

Monday, King Abner will start on turf for the first time since a third in an optional claimer at five furlongs at Del Mar in the summer.

“It was too short,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

If he runs well Monday, King Abner might go next in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on turf for California-breds on Jan. 26.

“It’s an experiment to see if he can turf,” D’Amato said of Monday’s race. “If he can, there is a potential jackpot at the end of January.”

The allowance race, run at a mile, is restricted to statebreds that have not won a stakes at a mile or longer on turf this year. The race drew a field of seven, including Brandothebartender, who won the California Flag Handicap at five furlongs on turf here in October, and He Will, who is winless in five starts since winning the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in November 2017.

KEY CONTENDERS

King Abner, by Hansen
Last 3 Beyers: 87-92-73

◗ King Abner led or disputed the pace in his last two races.

◗ Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Summit Racing, Jackie Rojas, and Ticket To Ride LLC, King Abner, 4, has won 5 of 14 starts.

◗ The two recent wins in optional claimers are his only starts around two turns.

“I see improvement,” D’Amato said. “He’s more comfortable around two turns. He seems more push-button.”

He Will, by Cyclotron
Last 3 Beyers: 87-90-90

◗ Monday’s race ends a span of 11 consecutive starts in stakes for He Will since February 2017. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, He Will was sixth of 12 in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Nov. 24 at Del Mar, finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind winner Caribou Club.

◗ He Will, 6, is a threat from off the pace from the rail.

Brandothebartender, by Tribal Rule
Last 3 Beyers: 84-93-84

◗ A 5-year-old gelding, Brandothebartender has not raced around two turns since a sixth in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic last January. At the time, Brandothebartender was trained by Andrew Lerner. Craig Dollase claimed Brandothebartender for $40,000 at Del Mar in August.

◗ Brandothebartender won his first stakes in the California Flag Handicap in a 7-1 upset. More recently, Brandothebartender was third in the Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs on Nov. 18 at Del Mar.