Ashleyluvssugar to try for third Whittingham

ARCADIA, Calif. - There will be no price tag on the veteran gelding Ashleyluvssugar anytime soon.

Wednesday, Ashleyluvssugar, a six-time stakes winner, was entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita and will not start in the newly created $75,000 War Horse Claiming Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on June 8. The War Horse Claiming Stakes is for horses entered to be claimed at prices ranging from $125,000 to $150,000.

Trainer Peter Eurton is skeptical the War Horse Claiming Stakes will draw sufficient entries and said the distance of the $200,000 Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles has greater appeal.

“My concern was it not filling,” he said. “I wasn’t worried about losing him for $150,000, but you never know.

Ashleyluvssugar, an 8-year-old gelding, is winless in 11 starts since his victory in the Whittingham Stakes in 2017. Ashleyluvssugar also won the race in 2015.

In three starts earlier this year, Ashleyluvssugar was second in the Unusual Heat Turf for California-breds in January, fifth in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in March, and third by a length in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at 1 1/8 miles on April 28.

Ashleyluvssugar, who was not eligible to be claimed that day, raced a length behind the pacesetter and was beaten a length by Marckie’s Water, who is entered in the Whittingham.

“I think on any given day he can show his stuff,” Eurton said. “He’s still really happy. This is his best distance at 1 1/4 miles.”

The Whittingham has a projected field of seven, including Morse Code, Prime Attraction, Tizzarunner, United, and Ya Gotta Wanna.

Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Joe Ciaglia, Ashleyluvssugar has won 10 of 33 starts and earned $1,446,583.

Eurton has runners in three graded stakes over the holiday weekend. Monday, he starts Ahimsa in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf and Core Beliefs in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

Velazquez on Sharp Samurai

John Velazquez will ride Sharp Samurai in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita, according to trainer Mark Glatt.

The $500,000 Shoemaker Mile will be the first start of the year for Sharp Samurai. Gary Stevens, who retired in November, was the regular rider of Sharp Samurai for most of 2017 and all of last year.

In 2018, Sharp Samurai ended his season with a win in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile. He was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November, but did not start because of illness.

The winner of Monday’s Shoemaker Mile earns a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.