Bam Bam Again can give Periban another stakes win in Graduation

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jorge Periban has just 14 horses in his barn at Del Mar. Like most every trainer on this circuit, big and small, he’d like more. He just wants an opportunity.

One of California’s most prominent breeders, Terry Lovingier, is trying to help. Lovingier has interests in four of the horses in Periban’s barn. Two of them are stakes-class 2-year-olds. Taking a page from some of the bigger outfits around here, Periban will try to divide and conquer with those two over the next week-plus.

On Friday, Periban will send out Bam Bam Again in the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-breds. And then on Aug. 10, he’ll run Phantom Boss – recent winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs, and the first graded stakes winner for Periban – in the Grade 2, $200,000 Best Pal Stakes against some of the top runners here this summer.

“Finally. The man upstairs is giving me something,” said Periban, 59, a native of Mexico City who has been plying his trade on this circuit for 22 years. “I’ve worked so hard for so many years.”

Bam Bam Again should be a moderate price in the Graduation. He heads into the race following a narrow maiden victory last time out at Los Alamitos in his third start. Periban believes he is continuing to progress, and thought a half-mile gate work in 47.80 seconds at Del Mar last Sunday was further evidence.

“He’s changed. He’s a lot better. He didn’t show much in his works, but his last work was very good,” Periban said. “He’s getting better and better. He’s getting better mentally. He’s more professional.”

The Graduation, at 5 1/2 furlongs, drew a field of 10, including the filly Bulletproof One, who was expected to race against fillies on Wednesday in the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Champion Stakes. The Graduation goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bam Bam Again, by Awesome Again

Beyers: 63-49-48

◗ He has taken a step forward on figs each time he has raced and likely will need another forward move to prevail Friday.

◗ Geovanni Franco rode him in his first three starts, but opted for the Miller-trained Bluegrass Faith, so Rafael Bejarano takes over.

Fast Enough, by Eddington

Beyer: 76

◗ He owns the race’s top fig, earned when beating statebred maidens in his May 31 debut at Santa Anita.

Big Returns, by Mr. Big

Beyer: 74

◗ He scored a 7 1/4-length victory when debuting against Cal-bred maidens on July 20.

◗ The biggest question with him will be whether he can repeat the quality of that effort coming back in just 13 days.

Pas de Panique, by Smiling Tiger

Beyers: 60-71

◗ He beat open company at Santa Anita after finishing second to Phantom Boss in his debut.