Beer Can Man makes return to California turf sprints

Unlike many successful Southern California-based turf sprinters, Beer Can Man is not a fixture in stakes on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

Beer Can Man was third in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the course in February 2022 when ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, his only appearance on the unique course.

“Flavien thought he was better on the flat than the hill,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Thursday.

Beer Can Man’s overall turf sprint record supports Prat’s theory, and is why the 5-year-old gelding has an excellent chance to win his second consecutive start in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Friday.

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Beer Can Man has run twice this year, finishing fifth in an allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Keeneland April 22 and winning the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at five furlongs on turf at Pimlico May 20.

“We wanted to keep him on the flat instead of running down the hill,” D’Amato said. “He had a nice prep at Keeneland and ran a nice race at Pimlico.”

Beer Can Man, owned by the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Madakat Stables, and Sterling Stables, is unbeaten in three starts on turf at Del Mar in his 14-race career, which includes seven wins and earnings of $514,164.

The allowance race on Friday is a prep for a potential start in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap, a $150,000 race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar Sept. 2.

The allowance race drew a stakes-caliber field including Whatmakessammyrun, who won the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last October; Silent Poet, who won the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes for turf sprinters at Woodbine in 2021; Turn on the Jets, the winner of the Stormy Liberal Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar for D’Amato last December; and Sumter, who was third in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in December.

Sumter, third in the Stormy Liberal, can be a factor off the pace in his first start since March.

“He’s training really good, trainer Richard Mandella said. “I expect him to run one of his best races.”

Others include War at Sea, who has not raced since a third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last September; and the speedy Noble Reflection, who won an allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in June and will start from the outside post of 8 on Friday.

Beer Can Man and Noble Reflection should ensure a solid pace.

D’Amato said Turn on the Jets cannot be ignored. The 4-year-old gelding was a troubled fourth behind Noble Reflection June 16, losing by a length after a rough trip.

“He was blocked with nowhere to go,” D’Amato said. “I think second off the bench on a track he likes, he could be very tough.”

Unlike Beer Can Man, Whatmakessammyrun has thrived on the Santa Anita hillside in the last year. Aside from the Eddie D, Whatmakessammyrun won the Siren Lure Stakes on the course in April and was a game second by a neck in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes in May.

Whatmakessammyrun was fifth behind Noble Reflection on June 16, losing by a length after a slow start.

“His five-furlong races have been a little difficult,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “He doesn’t ever seem to get the right trp. We’re hoping to turn the tables on that.”

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