Ashleyluvssugar targets San Juan Capistrano

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ashleyluvssugar, a two-time stakes winner at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita this year, is making a racing sentimentalist of trainer Peter Eurton.

After Ashleyluvssugar won the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes on Sunday, Eurton set his sights on the track’s most historic turf race – the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles June 28.

“Who wouldn’t want to win the San Juan?” Eurton said.

Eurton never has had a runner in the San Juan Capistrano, which was first run on turf in 1954, the year the track’s turf course opened.

Ashleyluvssugar has developed into a top-tier candidate for the San Juan Capistrano with his win in the Whittingham and the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes in March. The San Juan competition is expected to include Ganesh and Going Somewhere, who were second and third in the Whittingham Stakes.

For Ashleyluvssugar, a start in the San Juan Capistrano would lead to turf stakes in August in races such as the Arlington Million, the Del Mar Handicap, or the Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga, Eurton said.

“They are so many cool races,” Eurton said.

The $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 22 is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31 to the winner, provided the horse is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program.

Ashleyluvssugar is owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing and has won 6 of 11 starts with earnings of $455,504. Ashleyluvssugar is not currently eligible for the Breeders’ Cup and must be nominated for $50,000 by July 15 or for $100,000 after July 15.

Eurton knows the competition will get tougher for Ashleyluvssugar as the season progress.

“What we’ve been running against is not as tough as what’s out there in the world,” he said.

Eurton’s next runner in a Grade 1 race will be Kobe’s Back in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at a mile June 6 at Belmont Park. Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Kobe’s Back won the $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes, a Grade 3 at seven furlongs April 4 at Keeneland.

The 4-year-old Kobe’s Back has won 3 of 11 starts and $506,250. On Sunday, Kobe’s Back worked six furlongs in 1:11, the fastest of 11 recorded works at the distance.

“If he’s as good as he’s been, he’ll give a good account of himself,” Eurton said.