American Theorem back off seven-month layoff

ARCADIA, Calif. – The long Santa Anita season ends Sunday, but not before two prominent sprinters begin 2023 campaigns Friday in successive allowance races on separate surfaces.

American Theorem, a Grade 1 winner on dirt and top sprinter in California last summer, returns in race 4. Turn On The Jets, a stakes winner on turf last fall, returns in race 3. Both horses are using the allowance races at Santa Anita to prepare for summer stakes at Del Mar. Buyer beware.

“This is a prep for the next one,” American Theorem’s trainer George Papaprodomou cautioned. “If he wins, he wins. If he doesn’t, it’s just a prep and he needed the race.”

American Theorem’s summer objective is the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby on July 29, which he won last year.

Similarly, a graded stakes is the target for Turn On The Jets, trained by Phil D’Amato. “The key is to get a race into him and have him ready for the Green Flash,” he said, referring to the Grade 3, $150,000 turf sprint on Sept. 2. The date gives Turn On The Jets time for another start before then.

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Despite layoffs, American Theorem and Turn On The Jets will be well-backed Friday. American Theorem, eighth last out in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland, races six furlongs against six others. His rivals include front-runners Kid Corleone and Disco Ball, recent 90-Beyer runner-up Cyberviking, Affable, Escape Route, and Brazenly.

Turn On The Jets, who won the $101,500 Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar in his most recent start in December, runs 5 1/2 furlongs on turf against six others. Rivals include front-runner Noble Reflection, graded-winning turf sprinter Whatmakessammyrun, and graded-winning turf miler Earls Rock. Others are See Through It, Chasin Munny, and Burnin Turf.

The high-quality Friday program also includes a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies, race 2, in which She’s My Niece figures to be heavily favored. Race 7 is a filly-mare maiden sprint led by second-time starter Strange Addiction. Race 9 is an entry-level allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies with Clearly Unhinged and Pleasant.

American Theorem is the best horse Friday. Last year he won the Grade 2 TripleBend at Santa Anita and Bing Crosby. “He’s training good, I liked the way he looked [working Sunday],” Papaprodomou said.

Joe Bravo gave a thumbs-up after he worked American Theorem five furlongs from the gate in 59.60. “George, he’s ready now,” Bravo told Papaprodomou.

Although illness postponed American Theorem’s comeback, Papaprodomou believes the 6-year-old ridgling is positioned for a successful campaign now that nagging shin problems are history. “This year, I think he’s better than last year. Hopefully we get him to the Breeders’ Cup, that’s the goal,” Papaprodomou said.

American Theorem has won four races and $601,967 from 14 starts for owner Rustin Kretz.

Papaprodomou also trains graded stakes-winning sprinter Spirit of Makena. “Both might run in the [Bing Crosby], or I might separate them, I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”

The pace scenario Friday benefits American Theorem’s off-the-pace style. Comebacker Kid Corleone and Disco Ball are front-runners who could hook up. American Theorem, unraced in seven months, is the horse to beat.

Papaprodomou also starts a top contender in the race-3 turf allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs. Noble Reflection won back-to-back Santa Anita allowance turf sprints in spring, and recently finished fourth in a Grade 2 turf sprint at Churchill Downs. Noble Reflection and Umberto Rispoli could be long gone over Phil D’Amato-trained Turn On The Jets and Earls Rock.

Turn On The Jets has not started since winning the Stormy Liberal Stakes in December at Del Mar. D’Amato said Turn On The Jets “had a little issue we took care of; he’s come back really good. His last two or three drills have been pretty impressive.”

An Irish import, the 4-year-old gelding Turn On The Jets won two of four turf sprints last summer and fall including his U.S. debut off an eight-month layoff similar to Friday. D’Amato also starts Earls Rock on Friday. The turf miler is shortening to one turn.

“We’re just experimenting with him,” D’Amato said. “Jockeys keep telling me, ‘Try him short.’ He breezes really sharp in the morning, so we’re experimenting here.”

Earls Rock, who won the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes in February at one mile, will rally late under Hector Berrios.

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