Berlin Wall looms lone speed switching to turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – A veteran gelding nearing the end of his career and a lightly raced colt just getting started are key runners Thursday in split divisions of a California-bred allowance turf sprint at Santa Anita.

Jetovator, a 10-year-old gelding, and Berlin Wall, a 4-year-old colt, are program favorites in races 3 and 7, respectively. Thursday is a make-up day for a rain cancellation, and the start of a Thursday-through-Monday race week.

Neither Jetovator nor Berlin Wall are standouts racing six furlongs in the main-oval turf sprints. They are merely tepid favorites, both listed at 9-5.

Berlin Wall has won two of six and is a long way from matching Jetovator, a seven-time winner from 39 starts. While Jetovator has been a turf horse most of his career, Berlin Wall will be racing on grass for the first time.

“From the beginning, we’ve always thought he could run dirt or turf, because of his breeding,” Berlin Wall’s trainer Steve Knapp said. “It’s time to try. We know he can run on the dirt, for sure.”

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Berlin Wall is by Practical Joke, whose progeny have won at a higher rate on dirt than turf (17 percent to 9 percent). But the dam of Berlin Wall is an Uncle Mo mare who ran well on turf.

The main attribute favoring Berlin Wall on Thursday is his speed. Although he was not close to the lead in either of his last two starts, Thursday’s allowance is short on pace. Berlin Wall’s natural speed could land him on the lead under jockey Tiago Pereira.

At minimum, Berlin Wall is facing easier company. Following a runaway California-bred allowance win on dirt, Berlin Wall raced in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 28. It was a reach. Berlin Wall went off at 36-1 and finished sixth.

“He got so much dirt in his eyes, when he got back to the barn he couldn’t even open his eyes,” Knapp said. “That’s going to stop you from running. Was it a tough race? Yes. We gave it a shot. Hopefully we can get back there later.”

Berlin Wall has worked well since and can be long gone Thursday if he handles turf. His main rivals are late-runner Check’s On the Way and comebacker Irish Royalty. Others are Cardiff Crack, Galland de Besos, Warm Sun and Brew, and Highplainsdrifter.

Jetovator is in his final year of racing at Santa Anita. House rules in the condition book state: “Winners over 10 years old will not be eligible and will not be allowed at Santa Anita or any approved training facility.”

Fresh off a California-bred allowance win at Del Mar, Jetovator is racing Thursday on a Santa Anita turf course where he has scored six of his seven wins. His forwardly placed running style should play well in a field short on speed. Mirco Demuro rides Jetovator for trainer Peter Eurton.

Grazed, a neck behind Jetovator two starts back, is returning to the Santa Anita turf on which he has won four races. Grazed has a forwardly placed style. Others in the field include Special Club, Otro Mas, Jaguar Jon, Gold Council, and Bro Bro.

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