Ashleyluvssugar faces must-win situation in King Pellinore
ARCADIA, Calif. – For Ashleyluvssugar to advance to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31, a win in Sunday’s $75,000 King Pellinore Stakes at Santa Anita is a must.
And not just any win. Ashleyluvssugar needs to give a flashy performance.
“I think we need to see a big performance,” trainer Peter Eurton said on Friday. “There are too many tough horses coming from Europe. A mediocre performance will not work. You have to come up with a lot of dough to run in it.”
Ashleyluvssugar won consecutive Grade 2 races at 1 1/2 miles on turf here during the spring – the San Luis Rey Stakes in March and the Charles Whittingham Handicap in May. He has lost his last two starts, a sixth-place finish in the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 5 and a second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 22.
The loss in the Del Mar Handicap was a stinger. Race winner Big John B earned an automatic berth to the BC Turf.
The King Pellinore is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf and drew an oversubscribed field of 13. Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Friday that Mr T Bird, who is on the also-eligible list, will not run. The Pellinore is a replacement race for the $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship, a Grade 2 at 1 1/4 miles on turf that is not being run this year because of financial concerns during the track’s brief 19-day autumn meeting.
Track officials have said the John Henry Turf Championship will be restored to the stakes schedule in 2016.
The 4-year-old Ashleyluvssugar races for Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing. He drew the rail in the King Pellinore and will be ridden by Gary Stevens. The inside draw is not a concern for Eurton since Ashleyluvssugar races from off the pace.
“I think it’s a great draw,” Eurton said. “We’ve got time to let the field spread out.”
The expected field of 12 includes the stakes winners Baccelo, Class Leader, Danas Best, Flamboyant, and Quick Casablanca.
Danas Best, imported from Australia this year, was fifth in the Del Mar Handicap, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.
“He got in a lot of trouble,” trainer D’Amato said. “In one more jump, he could have finished third. I expected a big effort.”
Two of the runners won their last starts – Bird E House, in a 50-1 upset in a starter allowance at Del Mar on Aug. 20, and Texas Ryano, in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles there Sept. 5. The added distance will help Texas Ryano, trainer Carla Gaines said.
Gaines described Texas Ryano’s win on Sept. 5 as “very impressive.”
“I don’t know if he has any distance limitations,” Gaines said. “He might want a mile and a half. The biggest issue will be the pace.”