Blackjackcat back in action

ARCADIA, Calif. – A year ago, Blackjackcat was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar as a 19-1 outsider, the end of a successful 2017 season.

Saturday, Blackjackcat will start in an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option at Santa Anita in his first start since June. The optional claimer, run at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, is designed to give Blackjackcat a start before he resumes running in stakes.

Blackjackcat is winless in three starts this year, with his best result a fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes in April. The 5-year-old gelding was seventh in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in June when the decision was made by owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trainer Mark Glatt to give him a rest.

In Saturday’s race, Blackjackcat will start from the outside in a field of five. Gary Stevens regains the mount for the first time since a win in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar in July 2017. Kent Desormeaux has ridden Blackjackcat in his last six starts.

“He’s drawn well,” Glatt said.

Saturday’s race will be Blackjackcat’s first start in a turf sprint since a third in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes in May 2017. He followed that loss with four consecutive wins, three of which were stakes.

The optional claimer includes the Glatt-trained Law Abidin Citizen, who was fourth in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course on Sept. 28, and Restrainedvengence, who won the Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds in July.