Ann Arbor Eddie faces fast new kid on the block

CYPRESS, Calif. – Ann Arbor Eddie won two stakes last winter before he was knocked off the Triple Crown trail in early spring with a splint-bone injury.

Microrithms has never been close to the famous races. He was unraced at 2 and had a successful debut last month at Santa Anita.

On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Ann Arbor Eddie and Microrithms will be formidable rivals to the five others in an optional claimer at six furlongs. If he runs well, Ann Arbor Eddie is a candidate for the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at seven furlongs for California-breds at Del Mar on July 30.

“He’s ready to win,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

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Microrithms won his debut on June 17, zooming away from five rivals to win a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths.

“I was surprised the way he ran,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Love My Bud, second in the Thor’s Echo Handicap for California-breds in 2016, will have his first start since last August. Mr. Opportunist, who won the Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds in 2016, is likely to be part of the pace in his first start for a claiming price since last April.

KEY CONTENDERS

Microrithms, by Algorithms

Beyer: 86

◗ Owned by a partnership that includes former California Horse Racing Board chairman David Israel, Microrithms was sidelined by injury as a 2-year-old. He had his first workout in late February.

◗ Since the maiden win, Microrithms has continued to work quickly, including a half-mile in 45.60 seconds at Santa Anita on June 27, a work Baffert said he timed in 46 seconds.

“He’s working great,” Baffert said. “I don’t know how far he wants to go.

“When he steps up against winners, you learn more about them. He’s really quick.”

Ann Arbor Eddie, by Square Eddie

Last 3 Beyers: 71-77-81

◗ Ann Arbor Eddie won consecutive stakes for California-breds last fall and winter – the King Glorious Stakes at a mile here last December and the California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in January. Ann Arbor Eddie was later second in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. He was fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11 before the splint-bone injury was detected.

◗ This will be Ann Arbor Eddie’s shortest race. He won a maiden race for California-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last October in his debut.

“We’re in it to win it, but it is a nice tightener for the Real Good Deal,” O’Neill said.