Big Novel, Professors' Pride try two turns in Soviet Problem Stakes
If they were distance-challenged sprint specialists, Big Novel and Professors’ Pride might be dubious racing a mile in the Soviet Problem Stakes on Friday at Los Alamitos. Neither filly has run long, but distance-challenged? Probably not.
Big Novel and Professors’ Pride both race two turns for the first time Friday, and their connections are confident they will stay the one-mile trip in the $100,000 Soviet Problem for 2-year-old fillies bred in California. The longer, the better.
Stakes-placed Big Novel, the likely favorite trained by John Sadler and ridden by Joe Bravo, has been begging for more ground.
“Joe said she’s been wanting to run two turns, so we think she’s going to be a little better,” Sadler said.
Professors’ Pride started only once, an impressive debut victory in a Del Mar maiden sprint that was a backup race, according to trainer Eddie Truman.
“Actually, I wanted to run her two turns the first time, but it didn’t come up,” he said. “I just think she’s a two-turn horse.”
Big Novel and Professors’ Pride top the nine entrants in the Soviet Problem, the eighth and final race Friday. The field also includes Sadler-trained Dendera and Rose Maddox, one-two in an allowance turf route; sprint stakes winner At the Spa; and stakes-placed Munny Penny. Madiha, Girl Ranger, and Smilin Evie also entered.
Funny thing about Big Novel is she is only the second-best California-bred filly in the Sadler stable. Big Novel defeated maidens third time out, followed by a runner-up finish in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The convincing winner was highly regarded stablemate Big Switch.
“We’re saving her for the big meet,” Sadler said referring to 2-for-2 Big Switch. She could start in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.
As for the Soviet Problem on Friday, Sadler said, “I think Big Novel can win on her own.”
George Krikorian bred and owns Big Switch and Big Novel, both sired by Mr. Big. Although Big Novel was no match for her stablemate last out, Big Novel finished more than six lengths clear of third. Her last two Beyer Speed Figures – 74 and 77 – top the Friday field.
While the figure earned by Professors’ Pride was solid – 72 Beyer – her performance was even better visually. She broke from the outside post, pressed the pace, cruised to the lead into the stretch, and won under a supremely confident ride by Juan Hernandez.
Sired by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern and produced by a mare that won at 1 3/8 miles, Professors’ Pride should relish the longer trip. Truman acknowledges that her lack of seasoning is more of a concern than distance.
“The only problem with her is inexperience,” Truman said. “Around other horses, she’s kind of timid sometimes.”
If she clears the field, or presses the pace outside in the clear, Professors’ Pride can stretch out and win the Soviet Problem for owner Larry Samovar, whose stable name is Academic Farms.