Beach View suited by dirt-marathon conditions

ARCADIA, Calif. – Beach View is often a horse without an ideal race – a stayer proven in dirt races at 1 1/2 miles.

Beach View won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar last July, but has been beaten in four subsequent starts, all on turf or in dirt races at shorter distances.

Sunday’s Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Santa Anita offers a rare instance of perfect conditions for Beach View, who is expected to be favored against four rivals.

“That’s his distance,” trainer Leonard Powell said.

Beach View’s main rival is Campaign, who was fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on April 6 for trainer John Sadler, beaten 5 1/4 lengths by stablemate Gift Box.

:: Add Santa Anita Clocker Reports to your handicapping arsenal

The remainder of the field for the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup will be longer prices.

Acker is expected to set the pace in his first start since a win in an optional claimer in which he was claimed for $62,500 here Jan. 31.

Full of Luck won an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on March 16 and was third in the 2018 Cougar II Handicap. Arch Prince was second in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields in February.

KEY CONTENDERS

Beach View, by Giant’s Causeway

Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-93

◗ Owned by Paul and Mark Levy, Beach View will start from the outside post in his first start since a second in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf March 29. Beach View closed from last of five in that race through a slow pace.

“We got bottled in a little bit,” Powell said. “He came running at the end. The circumstances of the pace worked against us a bit.”

◗ Beach View, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, will race from the back of the field, Powell projects.

“He’ll be relaxed,” Powell said. “He always shows up.

“The horse of Sadler’s is the horse to beat.”

Campaign, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-84

◗ Campaign closed from last in the Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles, and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Mongolian Groom for third.

Wednesday, Campaign was supplemented to the Tokyo City Cup for $2,000.

◗ Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Campaign has a solid history in long races on turf, having won a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles at Kentucky Downs in September last year, and winning a first-condition allowance race at 1 5/16 miles at the same venue a week later.

◗ Sadler is confident Campaign will run well in the Tokyo City Cup.

“I think he’s a winner,” Sadler said.

◗ Sadler also starts Acker, a six-time winner who was fifth in an optional claimer at 1 1/2 miles on turf here last June, his only start at the distance.

“Acker looks like a horse that could control the pace,” Sadler said.