Bookies Luck takes first shot at two turns

CYPRESS, Calif. – Recent stakes wins at six and seven furlongs will make Bookies Luck a strong favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at a mile at Los Alamitos.

The unknown is how Bookies Luck will handle the one-mile distance in his first start around two turns. The question has been a focus of Bookies Luck’s preparation for the King Glorious since a nose win in the Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

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“We were concerned about seven-eighths and he passed that with flying colors,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “We’re hoping for the same response in this race.

“We’ve been working him and making him relax and finish.”

The King Glorious will be a good opportunity to test Bookies Luck’s stamina. The race has not drawn a strong field. Bookies Luck, who races for Larry and Marianne Williams, is the only stakes winner in the field. Lucky Romano was third in the Golden State Juvenile.

One notable absence is Smokem, who was third in the Golden State Juvenile and second to Bookies Luck in the I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1. Trainer Gary Sherlock said Wednesday that Smokem has been turned out to a local farm.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Bookies Luck, by Lucky Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 77-77-35

◗Bookies Luck has worked six furlongs twice in recent weeks at Santa Anita. On Dec. 7, he zipped six furlongs there in 1:14.20.

“He’s been very good in the morning,” Bonde said.

◗ Bookies Luck has disputed the pace in most of his races. The colt will start from post 6 in the King Glorious and should be joined near the front by Royal Trump and Oh Man, two former maiden claimers who are starting in a stakes for the first time.

◗ Bonde is hopeful the outside draw will allow jockey Kent Desormeaux to position Bookies Luck behind rivals if the pace is quick.

“He’s a pace-type horse and he’s learning to rate,” Bonde said.

Lucky Romano, by Lucky Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 69-64-44

◗ In a field of seven, Lucky Romano is the only entrant that has raced around two turns. He finished seventh in the Oak Tree Juvenile at Pleasanton at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 30. Lucky Romano was trained by Andy Mathis through the Golden State Juvenile and has since been trained by Mark Glatt.

Intimidate, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 37-66-68

◗ Trained by Bob Hess Sr., Intimidate won his first two starts, in a maiden race and an optional claimer, before finishing a troubled fifth in the Golden Nugget Stakes at six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 11. Intimidate was steadied early and never recovered.

“It was a lost cause,” Hess said.

◗ Since late November, Intimidate has been based with Hess’s son Bob Jr., who trains in Southern California.

Minoso, by Council Member
Beyers: 69-44

◗ Minoso finished in a dead heat for first in a maiden race for California-breds at Del Mar on Nov. 11 at 54-1. Gary Stevens has the mount on Saturday for trainer Sean McCarthy in what will be Minoso’s third start.

◗ Minoso is a threat from the back of the field.

“He doesn’t have speed,” McCarthy said. “He can get a mile. I think he’ll run well.”