Blackjackcat takes path of least resistance in Obviously Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – The comfort of racing in California will keep multiple stakes winner Blackjackcat at Santa Anita for Saturday’s $75,000 Obviously Mile instead of taking a journey to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile.

The long-term goal for Blackjackcat remains intact – the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 4 at Del Mar. In the week after Blackjackcat won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 20, trainer Mark Glatt said the Shadwell Mile held appeal as a final Breeders’ Cup prep. Glatt and owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood recently decided instead to stay home.

“We felt like it would be a hard trip to go back and forth across the country and run in a tough race,” Glatt said. “We want him to be in tip-top shape.”

Blackjackcat will certainly have an easier assignment in the Obviously Mile than in the $1 million Shadwell Mile, which drew a full field including Grade 1 winners Miss Temple City and Mondialiste.

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Blackjackcat is the only graded stakes winner in the Obviously Mile, which has six entrants. A 4-year-old gelding by Tale of the Cat, Blackjackcat has won three consecutive races, including an optional claimer at a mile on turf here July 2 and the restricted Wickerr Stakes on turf July 23 at Del Mar.

Glatt is hopeful another stakes win Saturday – albeit in a minor race – will secure Blackjackcat a berth in the BC Mile, which is often oversubscribed. The race will be limited to 14 starters.

“It’s a question of hopefully his [qualifying] points holding up and being selected into the race,” Glatt said.

Blackjackcat starts from the rail in the Obviously Mile. He tends to race from a stalking position and is likely to follow Cistron, a 3-year-old stakes winner trained by John Sadler who has led in several starts.

The field includes the 3-year-old Bird Is the Word and 4-year-old Tequila Joe, both of whom won an optional-claiming race at Del Mar’s summer meeting and have been second or third in turf stakes.

The Obviously Mile is being run this year in place of the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, a $200,000 race that was given a one-year hiatus this fall because of purse constraints. Track officials said earlier this year the City of Hope Mile will be part of the 2018 autumn meeting.

The Obviously Mile is the second race on a 10-race program led by the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

Swingtime: John Mabee rematch

The final stakes of the day is the restricted $70,000 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Madame Stripes, who won the restricted Osunitas Stakes on turf July 21 at Del Mar, starts from the rail in a field of eight. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Madame Stripes was third in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 2 at Del Mar.

Three other runners from the Mabee Stakes are in the Swingtime field – Insta Erma (who was fourth), Mrs McDougal (seventh), and Lady Valeur (10th).

Mrs McDougal won three stakes for Chad Brown in 2015 and 2016, but has struggled this year in California for trainer Richard Mandella. Mrs McDougal was third as the 9-10 favorite in the Osunitas at 1 1/16 miles and was beaten six lengths in the Mabee after racing near the lead with a furlong to go.

The shorter distance of the Swingtime Stakes could work to the advantage of Mrs McDougal, a 5-year-old mare who has earned $491,951.