American Stakes lures deep field of 10; Bowies Hero makes first start of year

Bowies Hero and True Valour finished fifth and 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last November. Sharp Samurai did not make the race after he was turned out for a wintertime rest earlier in the fall.

Ideally, the BC Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland would be part of the 2020 schedule for those runners, who have solid credentials in Sunday’s Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

The $100,000 American Stakes will be the first start since the BC Mile for Bowies Hero, winner of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at 8-1 at Keeneland last October.

“We’re definitely looking at the bigger races this year,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Sharp Samurai, a five-time stakes winner, has not raced since a game second-place finish in the Del Mar Mile last August. True Valour, who won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile in 2019, finished sixth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf May 25, but was promoted to fifth after being hampered by a rival at the start.

The American Stakes drew a field of 10 and includes five other stakes winners – Blitzkrieg, Bolo, Cleopatra’s Strike, Jasikan, and King of Speed. This will be the stakes debut for the promising colt Border Town and the first start since November for the longshot Souter.

Bowies Hero was beaten 4 1/2 lengths in the BC Mile, breaking from post 12 in a field of 13 and racing as a stalker for the first six furlongs.

“I thought it was a good performance,” D’Amato said. “We were closer to the pace than we wanted to be. Given our post position, our hands were tied. Fifth in the Breeders’ Cup is not too shabby.

“I think he’s as fit as I can get him off workouts. He’s training well. I’ve liked his last couple of breezes.”

Bowies Hero worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 on June 6 at Los Alamitos, and five furlongs in 1:02.60 on the infield training track on June 14 at Santa Anita.

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D’Amato also starts Cleopatra’s Strike, who won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles last September.

Sharp Samurai was turned out last fall a month after the Del Mar Mile. He was third by a neck in the 2019 American.

A 6-year-old gelding, Sharp Samurai is winless in four starts since a nose victory in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile in October 2018.

“We’re hopeful for a good start,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “There’s a chance he could be a little bit rusty, but he usually runs pretty good fresh.”

True Valour breaks from the rail, which is not an ideal position, according to trainer Simon Callaghan.

“He comes from behind and he might prefer a more middle post,” he said. “We’ll be saving ground and hope the race works out for him.”

In the BC Mile, True Valour was as close as two lengths from the front in the stretch, but faded to finish six lengths behind Uni. The American Stakes could be a confidence booster for the 6-year-old True Valour.

“I think these sort of Grade 3s, when you don’t get the better horses shipping in, is when he can come to the fore,” Callaghan said.

Siren Lure Stakes

It took a near-course record performance to beat Sparky Ville in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf May 23. Wildman Jack was timed in 1:01.01, 1/100th of a second from the record.

Sparky Ville, the 70-1 longest shot in the field, led by 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch and was beaten a nose.

“Where I was standing, I thought I won the race,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “When they put the photo up, I found out I was wrong.”

Sparky Ville, a two-time stakes winner on dirt earlier in his career, can win his first turf stakes in Sunday’s $75,000 Siren Lure Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs, the first of 12 races on the program.

The Siren Lure will be Sparky Ville’s third start of 2020, a season that began with a fifth-place finish by two lengths in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf March 21.

In the seven-runner Siren Lure Stakes, Sparky Ville is likely to be near the front, although Torosay, who drew the rail, is quick.

Torosay, supplemented to the Siren Lure for $1,500, was third in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf May 25 behind the improving Big Runnuer, who is part of the Siren Lure field.